The band put out a series of EPs and was signed by Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong's label Hellcat Records. In 1998, the Dropkick Murphys released their first full-length album, Do Or Die. Lead singer Mike McColgan, who left the band later that year, was replaced by The Bruisers lead singer Al Barr. In 1999, they released their followup album, The Gang's All Here. In 2001, they released their third album, Sing Loud, Sing Proud. The album showcased the group’s developing sound and included collaborations with The Pogues' frontman Shane MacGowan and Cock Sparrer's Colin McFaull. It also marked a significant lineup change for the band. Original guitarist Rick Barton was replaced by former The Ducky Boys' guitarists James Lynch and Marc Orrell; instruments were added and played by new members Ryan Foltz and Spicy McHaggis.
The Dropkick Murphys' next album, Blackout, was released in 2003. The new album included the radio hit "Walk Away," as well as the songs "Fields of Athenry" and "The Dirty Glass." The latter features female vocals by Stephanie Dougherty (Deadly Sins). Around the same time, the band released a re-working of the Boston Red Sox anthem "Tessie," which then became the official song of the team's 2004 World Series run. "Tessie" was also used throughout the major motion picture Fever Pitch and was included on the EA Sports MVP Baseball 2005 soundtrack. In 2005, the Dropkick Murphys released Singles Collection Volume 2, featuring covers, B-sides, and other material that didn't make it onto previous albums, and the band contributed a recording of "We Got the Power" to Rock Against Bush, Volume 2.
The Dropkick Murphys' fifth studio album, The Warrior's Code, was released on June 21, 2005. It features the singles "Sunshine Highway," "The Walking Dead," "The Warrior's Code," as well as the bonus track "Tessie." It also includes a song that was inspired by a Woody Guthrie poem, which the group named "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." The song was featured in Martin Scorsese's 2006 film The Departed. Scorsese mentioned the band in an interview after winning his first Oscar.
The Dropkick Murphys released their sixth studio album, The Meanest of Times, on September 18, 2007. It was their first release not on the Hellcat Records label but instead on the label Born & Bred.
In early 2008, Marc Orrell left the band. Thereupon Tim Brennan, who had been playing mandolin, accordion, banjo, tin whistle, and guitar for the band since 2004, replaced Orrell on lead guitar. Tim's previous musical duties were taken over by Jeff DaRosa, former member of The Vigilante and Pinkerton Thugs.
In September of 2022, This Machine Still Kills Fascists was released. It's an acoustic album with unused words and lyrics written by Woody Guthrie, selected and given to the band to use by Guthrie's daughter Nora. It did not feature Al Barr, who was on hiatus for family matters.
The band will release their twelfth album, Okemah Rising, on May 12, 2023. The album was recorded during the same sessions for This Machine Still Kills Facists and like that album will feature songs using the unused lyrics by Woody Guthrie. The album was preceded by the singles "I Know How it Feels" on March 1, 2023, and "Gotta Get to Peekskill" (featuring Violent Femmes) on March 30, 2023.
Studio albums
Do or Die (1998)
The Gang's All Here (1999)
Sing Loud, Sing Proud! (2001)
Blackout (2003)
The Warrior's Code (2005)
The Meanest of Times (2007)
Going Out in Style (2011)
Signed and Sealed in Blood (2013)
11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory (2017)
Turn Up That Dial (2021)
This Machine Still Kills Fascists (2022)
Okemah Rising (2023)
Fields of Athenry
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics to Dropkick Murphys' song "Fields of Athenry" tell the story of two lovers torn apart by circumstance - imprisonment, rebellion, and separation - and the pain and loneliness that come along with those events. In the first verse, we hear the voice of a young girl calling out to her lover, Michael, who has been taken away to prison for stealing corn from the wealthy landlord Trevelyan. The theft was an act of rebellion against the oppressive regime of the time - the Irish Potato Famine of the 19th century, during which many Irish people suffered and died due to a lack of food and resources.
The chorus of the song speaks to the somber beauty of the landscape around the prison walls - the low-lying fields of Athenry - and the love that once thrived there. The second verse shifts to Michael's point of view as he calls out to Mary, his partner, to reassure her that freedom is all that matters. But it is too late for Michael, as he has already been executed for his crime. Mary must carry on alone, raising their child with dignity and strength. In the final verse, we see Mary watching the prison ship sail off into the distance, hoping and praying for her love's safe arrival in Botany Bay, Australia - a place to which many Irish convicts were exiled during this time.
Overall, the lyrics of "Fields of Athenry" paint a picture of Irish history and the struggles of the Irish people during the tough times. They showcase the deep love and commitment that individuals had for each other, despite the most trying circumstances - and the ways in which that love gave them strength and hope to carry on.
Line by Line Meaning
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling
The singer was near a prison and heard a girl calling out for a person named Michael who was taken away for stealing.
Michael, they have taken you away,
The girl is calling out to Michael, who has been taken away by authorities.
For you stole Trevelyan's corn,
Michael was taken away for stealing corn that belonged to a man named Trevelyan.
So the young might see the morn
Michael stole the corn so that young people could survive and continue to see the dawn.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay
Michael is being held on a prison ship that is anchored in the bay.
Low lie the fields of Athenry
The fields of Athenry are no longer prosperous and have fallen on hard times.
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
The singer and their loved one used to watch birds fly in the fields of Athenry.
Our love was on the wing
Their love was in its prime and they were looking towards the future.
We had dreams and songs to sing
The artist and their loved one had hopes for the future and enjoyed singing songs together.
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
The artist is now alone in the fields of Athenry without their loved one or their former way of life.
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man calling
The singer now hears a young man calling out from the prison wall.
Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
The young man, who is named Mary, tells someone named Mary that nothing matters if they are free.
Against the famine and the crown,
The young man rebelled against the famine and the government.
I rebelled, they cut me down
The young man was punished for his rebellion and has now been taken away, leaving someone named Mary to raise their child with dignity.
Now you must raise our child with dignity
The young man is telling Mary that she must now raise their child with dignity since he is no longer able to.
By a lonely harbor wall, she watched the last star fall
A woman watches the last star fall from a harbor wall.
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
She watches as the prison ship sails away into the distance.
For she lived to hope and pray for her love in Botany Bay
The woman continues to hope and pray for her loved one who has been taken to Botany Bay, Australia as a prisoner.
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
The woman is now alone and lonely in the fields of Athenry without her loved one.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALEXANDER MARTIN BARR, KENNETH WILLIAM CASEY, MARC JOHN ORRELL, MATTHEW KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Евген
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.
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 that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray,
for her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.
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
DoctorVision
This is one of those few songs that can be sung both slowly and quickly - poignant and epic. Wonderful versatility in The Fields of Athenry.
ScreamBloodyMetal
I went crowdsurfing during this song the very first time I saw the Murphys live. One of the highlights of my life.
Donovan Francis
ScreamBloodyMetal yo not even kidding me too!! So weird seeing this comment because Murphy’s was the first band i ever saw in concert and this was my favorite song and when i said i wanted to go crowd surfing this huge irish guy in front of me offered to toss me up and did 😂 rode all the way up to stage
Patrick Haupt
Sounds worth every penny and bruise
N M
The power of this song is that even if I'm French it makes me proud to be Irish ☘️
BRICKS AND BASS
Lol what the fuck
Adam Singer
😆😂🤣🤣 YES.
N M
@M HK Évidemment, la famine, la guerre, les divisions sont des épreuves terribles, pas si anciennes, qui sont difficiles à cerner pour les étrangers. Mon post n'est que bienveillance, amitié et même admiration envers les Irlandais
Todd Ianuzzi
That's right we are all brothers
P McDONAGH
I'm from Athenry, County Galway. By far the best version I have heard. It won't be beaten!