By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling
Michael, they have taken you away,
For you stole Trevelyan's corn,
So the young might see the morn
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry

By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man calling
Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the crown,
I rebelled, they cut me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity

By a lonely harbor wall, she watched the last star fall
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she lived to hope and pray for her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry


Lyrics submitted by AirCav1stOfThe9th, edited by AlecSchon

Fields Of Athenry [Previously Unreleased Track] Lyrics as written by Kenneth William Casey Alexander Martin Barr

Lyrics © MEMORY LANE MUSIC GROUP

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Fields of Athenry song meanings
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49 Comments

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  • -2
    General Comment

    What's wrong with it being a republican ballad?? The song is about a man who stands up against the British empire because he's oppressed. The republican movement was born with this very aim and continues to do that to this day. just because the free state was created doesn't mean that we're a free people. Remember, the IRA was founded and fought for freedom in the south and it continues in the north. Michael Collins' boys killed a load of people in the name of the Republic. We're actually being more civilised about it today with the political struggle (which would never have happened without the Republican movement). The history books will see the last 80 years and the next 15 or 20 as one continuous struggle. It is the IRA's (and Sinn Fein's) chapter in the rebellion that it our history. All that aside, I must admit that the shouts of "IRA" and "Sinn Fein" detract from the piece musically, but the sentiment is good.

    tronakon May 06, 2005   Link

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