The Fields Of Athenry
Mairead Carlin Lyrics
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I heard a young girl calling
Michael they are taking 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
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
It's so lonely′round the fields of Athenry
By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
Nothings matters Mary Wen you're free
Against the famine and the crown
I rebelled they ran 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
Low lies 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" is a poignant Irish ballad that speaks of the harsh realities of life during the Great Famine of Ireland in the mid-19th century. It is sung from the perspective of three different characters - a young girl, a young man, and a woman - who each have a loved one who is imprisoned or transported to a penal colony in Australia for theft or rebellion against the British authorities. The opening stanza sets the scene by describing a "lonely prison wall" where the young girl hears that her love, Michael, has been arrested for stealing corn to feed his starving family. In the second stanza, the young man laments his fate as a rebel who was "run down" by the authorities and leaves behind a child who must be raised with dignity. Finally, in the third stanza, the woman watches helplessly as her lover is taken away on a prison ship to Botany Bay and waits for his return.
The song's imagery captures the bleakness and despair of those who suffered during the Great Famine and the harsh punishment meted out to those who dared to resist. The refrain "Low lie the fields of Athenry" reinforces the sense of loss and emptiness that pervades the ballad. Yet, the references to "small free birds" and the couple's dreams and songs to sing hint at the resilience and hope that sustained many Irish people through that dark period.
Line by Line Meaning
By a lonely prison wall
The singer heard a girl's voice while standing next to a desolate jail barrier
I heard a young girl calling
The singer heard a juvenile female crying out
Michael they are taking you away
Someone named Michael is being taken away by authorities
For you stole Trevelyn's corn
Michael is being punished for taking corn that belonged to someone named Trevelyn
So the young might see the morn
Michael's theft is motivated by his desire to provide food for his family
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay
A ship that will transport prisoners is anchored nearby
Low lie the fields of Athenry
The fields of Athenry look barren and gloomy
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
The artist and Michael used to watch birds flying in the fields of Athenry
Our love was once the ding we hard dreams and songs to sing
The artist and Michael shared a love that brought them happiness and inspired their creativity
It's so lonely'round the fields of Athenry
The fields of Athenry are now empty and deserted, which makes the artist feel lonely
I heard a young man calling
The singer heard a man's voice that sounds youthful
Nothings matters Mary Wen you're free
The man, likely Michael, tells Mary that nothing else matters as long as she is free from imprisonment
Against the famine and the crown
Michael fought against both starvation and the ruling authority
I rebelled they ran me down
Michael was caught and punished for his rebellion
Now you must raise our child with dignity
Michael asks Mary to raise their child with honor and respect
By a lonely harbor wall
The artist is now by a deserted harbor-side structure
She watched the last star falling
A female is looking up at the sky in the nighttime, witnessing the last star disappear
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
The ship carrying prisoners is seen leaving the harbor and going into the horizon
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray
The female will keep waiting, hoping and praying for her partner's return
For her love in botany bay
The male, likely Michael, is now in the distant Botany Bay prison
Low lies the fields of Athenry
The fields of Athenry remain desolate and barren
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
The artist and Michael shared a love that gave them joy and inspired their creativity
It's so lonely'round the fields of Athenry
The emptiness of the fields and separation from loved ones create a feeling of loneliness
Writer(s): Pete St-john
Contributed by Alexandra R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Ruthzuercherin
grandios, saw you yesterday on TV with the Shamrock Tenors singing this wonderful Song
@raygrout6437
lovely hun why did'nt you do it live ? you've got a cracking voice ,beautiful xx
@raygrout6437
6 years ago and no comments ,i'm i don't know , sad x
@bgmac1219
did you re-release this or something? 'cause I had to go diving and I know I've liked it a couple dozen times before...
@moominpic
nice version. not enough female singers covering this