From Clare to Here
Ralph McTell Lyrics
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And sleeping late on Sundays I never get to Mass
It's a long way from Clare to here
It's a long way from Clare to here
It's a long, long way, it grows further by the day
It's a long way from Clare to here
My ma would like a letter home but I'm too tired for writing
Chorus
It almost breaks my heart when I think of Josephine
I told her I'd be coming home with my pockets full of green
Chorus
And the only time I feel alright is when I'm into drinking
It sort of eases the pain of it and levels out my thinking
Chorus
I sometimes hear a fiddle play or maybe it's a notion
I dream I see white horses dance upon that other ocean
Chorus
It's a long, long way from Clare to here.
The lyrics of Ralph McTell's song From Clare to Here tell a story of a group of people in a cramped room, working hard for the "crack" or fun times. The singer confesses that they often sleep in late on Sundays and never make it to Mass. They acknowledge that the journey from Clare to where they are now is a long one, and it feels like the gap only grows day by day. Terry in the group only seems to live for fighting, and the singer's mother longs for a letter home, but he is too exhausted to write one. All these conflicts and difficulties accumulate, but the singer still longs for richness and success, and has promised his lover Josephine that he will return with pockets full of green.
The final lines of the song demonstrate that the only relief from the struggles of life is drinking, as it levels out the singer's thinking and "eases the pain of it." In moments of escape or dreams, they hear the fiddle and imagine horses dancing in another place. The song highlights the distance and dislocation felt by the working class while still showing their resilience and determination to make something of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
There's four who share this room as we work hard for the crack
There are four people sharing a room, and we work hard to survive.
And sleeping late on Sundays I never get to Mass
I don't attend Sunday Mass because I often sleep in.
It's a long way from Clare to here
I'm far away from my hometown, Clare.
It's a long way from Clare to here
I'm still far away from Clare.
It's a long, long way, it grows further by the day
The distance between me and Clare feels longer every passing day.
It's a long way from Clare to here
I'm really far away from Clare.
When Friday comes around Terry's only into fighting
Terry likes to pick fights on Fridays.
My ma would like a letter home but I'm too tired for writing
Although my mother would like to hear from me, I'm too exhausted to write her a letter.
It almost breaks my heart when I think of Josephine
Thinking about Josephine, my loved one, makes me feel sad.
I told her I'd be coming home with my pockets full of green
I promised Josephine I'd come back home with a lot of money.
And the only time I feel alright is when I'm into drinking
Drinking is the only thing that makes me feel okay.
It sort of eases the pain of it and levels out my thinking
Drinking helps me cope with my problems and clears my head.
I sometimes hear a fiddle play or maybe it's a notion
Occasionally, I hear a fiddle playing, or maybe it's my imagination.
I dream I see white horses dance upon that other ocean
I often dream of seeing white horses dancing on a faraway ocean.
It's a long, long way from Clare to here.
The distance between me and Clare is still very long.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ralph Mctell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@susanruck9197
A one off. Makes me cry every time I hear it. Ralph is the only person who can sing it
I see white horses dance on another ocean.
Such a beautiful and honest way he expresses his feelings.
I FINALLY was able to buy a 2nd hand copy of his album called Right side up. The cd's of this album are extremely rare. This is his album where he sings 'Clare to here'.
I don't know what else to say really
My words above say it all
Sue
Australia
@louiselynch4298
My Dear Mother would listen to this song, she moved to London from Clare at 23, she is now 63 and very alonely(will never say) it breaks my Heart how alone she is, Never felt she could move home 😢 God be with All the Lost Souls in this world and the people Far from Home 🙏
@jean2927
Sorry.. your dear Mum..🙁
@alisonmcnee557
Maybe try to make sure she's not quite so lonely ✌️ ❤️ 🎶 ☮️
@june4783
This man deserves respect, he came to Belfast where I live when a lot of other artists would not, I have seen him many time and apart from that he has written great songs which we will have for ever, The people in N, I. will always love you for entertaining us in the dark days when other so called artists where too fearful
@renderizer01
This brings back memories of days long past. Sitting in the park by the lake, with good friends, bright eyes, laughter all around, singing songs, drinking wine, smoking the odd spliff, looking at a future full of great promises. And younger, so much younger than today...
@davidtownsend1792
Beautiful words I can relate to
@michaelj.corrigan8654
Ralph McTell is a true treasure.
@KGMDMusic
Such a lovely song.Ralph,you're a legend.
@richardemra971
Just one of Ralph McTell's extensive repertoire of brilliant songs.
@helenwright5194
Ralph McTell captures how isolation from one's culture and community is death by a thousand cuts.