Basically a song about social injustics; about a man probably morally coerced into a life of crime or theft to survive and either for himself or his family. Thus he is "sent away" to van Diemens Land- a place established for those who broke British criminal rule.In those days laws were strict and when they brought someone down,it was usually the masses in extreme poverty the reasons being a mixture of political and social beliefs that had been continually upheld by the British,stationed in Ireland for 600 years. This song exemplifies the sentiment of multiple Irish generations,particularly those who came before the great famine of the 1840's,mainly in the 18th century- who were plundered by those "kings" who will continue to "rule" over the "poor" who will continue to "toil". The idea of revolution rebellion- this man and his comrades "fought for justice and not for gain"- probably an attempt of reclaiming food and land that was rightfully theirs.Remeber- at this peiod of immense poverty throughout Ireland,the British were exporting more food than importing it. And so,this man years for his loved one to hold him one last time as he faces the "rising tide" towards the dreaded Van Diemen's Land.
Basically a song about social injustics; about a man probably morally coerced into a life of crime or theft to survive and either for himself or his family. Thus he is "sent away" to van Diemens Land- a place established for those who broke British criminal rule.In those days laws were strict and when they brought someone down,it was usually the masses in extreme poverty the reasons being a mixture of political and social beliefs that had been continually upheld by the British,stationed in Ireland for 600 years. This song exemplifies the sentiment of multiple Irish generations,particularly those who came before the great famine of the 1840's,mainly in the 18th century- who were plundered by those "kings" who will continue to "rule" over the "poor" who will continue to "toil". The idea of revolution rebellion- this man and his comrades "fought for justice and not for gain"- probably an attempt of reclaiming food and land that was rightfully theirs.Remeber- at this peiod of immense poverty throughout Ireland,the British were exporting more food than importing it. And so,this man years for his loved one to hold him one last time as he faces the "rising tide" towards the dreaded Van Diemen's Land.