Read Full Bio ↴Charlie and The Bhoys are an Irish band, based in Glasgow, Scotland.
The band traces its roots some 19 years ago, when they played their first concert at the Squirrel Bar near the Gallowgate, Glasgow in 1989. They band brand themselves as the "Number 1 Celtic Band in the World" and have enjoyed a reasonable degree of success in this role, having played to audiences across the world including Glasgow, New York, Dubai and other cities in North America, Australia, Europe and all across the UK and Ireland.
The band's name is derived from the nickname for Celtic Football Club, which most of their music celebrates.The Celtic Legend, Billy McNeill gave the band the name. The biggest turn-out the band ever had was in Seville, Prado De San Sebastian. The only time the band appear in Glasgow these days is at the famous Glasgow Barrowlands venue twice per year, Good Friday and September weekend.
Bhoys past and present:
* Grease" - Jimmy is the front man of Charlie and the Bhoys and the writer of all the group's original material. Playing guitar, banjo and mandolin, he is supported by a guitarist and bassist.
* Frankie - Frankie joined the band in the first year they were formed. He played bass up until 2003 when he then moved on to guitar. Rarely travels due to work commitments.
* Kebab" - Rab (son of Jimmy Grease) joined the band in the year 2000 playing the bass on keyboards.
* Wardie - Wardie (Mick the Flute) plays flutes and whistles and has been in the band from the beginning when he joined as a 17 year old after moving to Glasgow from his home land in Ireland, Donegal. Now living in Benidorm, Spain and only flys in for The Glasgow Barrowlands concerts or big venues.
* Quinnigan - Tam Quinnigan plays guitar and is stand in for Frankie who can't travel too much due to work commiitments. Quinnigan is also the newest member of the band.
* Charlie - Now retired and living back in his homeland in Donegal, Ireland. Now and again makes an appearance.
The Fields Of Athenry
Charlie and the Bhoys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard a young girl calling:
"Michael, they have taken you away,
For you stole Trevelyn's corn,
So the young might see the morn.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay."
Low lie the fields of Athenry
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."
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 harbor wall,
She watched the last star falling
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.
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.
The Fields of Athenry, written by Pete St. John, tells the story of the Irish Famine (1845-1852) from the perspective of a couple who are separated by imprisonment and transportation to Australia during the time of British rule. The song is a haunting lament that encapsulates a lot of the pain, suffering, and loss experienced by those who lived through the Famine. Through the lyrics, St. John expresses a sense of loss and hopelessness that was pervasive at the time, while also highlighting the strength and resilience of the Irish people.
The song begins with the singer hearing a young girl calling out for Michael, who has been taken away for stealing corn to feed his family. Michael is on a prison ship waiting in the bay, and the girl is left alone to mourn his absence. The second verse is sung from the perspective of a young man who has been imprisoned for rebelling against the famine and being cut down by the crown. He pleads with his wife to raise their child with dignity. The third verse introduces a woman watching the last star fall as her loved one is transported to Botany Bay in Australia to serve his sentence. She lives in hope and prayer for his return.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the loneliness and isolation felt by those left behind in Athenry as their loved ones are taken away. The small free birds that once flew over the fields of Athenry now no longer sing, symbolizing the death and loss that surrounds them.
Line by Line Meaning
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling:
The singer hears a young girl calling out from a prison wall, expressing helplessness after her loved one has been taken away.
"Michael, they have taken you away, For you stole Trevelyn's corn, So the young might see the morn. Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay."
The young girl addresses Michael, who has been imprisoned for trying to feed starving children by stealing corn. She tells him that a prison ship is waiting for him.
Low lie the fields of Athenry
The singer speaks of the fields of Athenry, which lie low, possibly symbolizing the oppression and hardship faced by the people there.
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
The fields were once a place of freedom and joy, where the artist watched small birds fly freely.
Our love was on the wing
The artist is recalling a time when they were in love and full of hopes and ambitions.
We had dreams and songs to sing
The singer and their loved one had dreams and ambitions, and enjoyed making music together.
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.
Despite the memories of freedom and love, the singer is overcome by a sense of loneliness and despair when thinking of the fields of Athenry.
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man calling
The artist hears a young man calling out from a prison wall, expressing his love and concern for Mary, his partner.
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
The young man assures Mary that once she is free, nothing else will matter.
Against the famine and the crown, I rebelled, they cut me down.
The young man was fighting against hunger and oppression, but was executed for his rebellious actions.
Now you must raise our child with dignity."
The young man implores Mary to raise their child with dignity, a reminder of their love and hope for a better future.
By a lonely harbor wall, she watched the last star falling
Mary, standing by a harbor wall, watches the last star disappear, possibly symbolizing the loss of hope and the end of a better future.
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
Mary watches the prison ship sail away, carrying her loved one to a distant land, possibly never to be seen again.
For she lived to hope and pray, For her love in Botany Bay
Mary lives on despite the hardship, clinging onto hope and praying for the return of her loved one who has been sent to Botany Bay.
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.
The song ends as it began, with the singer admitting to feeling lonely and despondent when thinking of the once free and joyful fields of Athenry.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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@thepeepsho
i am from english and irish descent......my mother has always implanted this track into my brain from being a young child.....she particularly loves this rendition because you can hear the crowd singing.....the love within the room must have been unparralleled......it makes the hairs on the back on my neck stand up......one more time!!!......Loooooow Liiieeeee!....
@nedkelly201
Respect from BENFICA!
@djmindcrasher
My favourite version.
@sharonyeats4516
Just luv this band, HH Y.N.W.A ๐๐ค๐งก๐๐ฏ๐๐๐คฉ๐คฉ๐ข๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ช xxxxxxxxxx
@eddiesmith732
loving it ๐ฎ๐ช๐HH๐ฎ๐ช๐
@marianneobyrne5071
And
@tanyasilva3870
Love this, well done, catb !!!!!!!!!!
@CorneliusSchwarzenstein
Tiocfaidh รกr lรก!!!!
@SimonOrr18
Brilliant need to see them
@sparkzy9071
Simon Orr my friends dad holds a gig every 6 months it's always under ยฃ15 for a ticket next ones in April! Facebook him for details, "Jamie Cameron"