The Fields Of Athenry
The Blarney Lads Lyrics
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I heard a young girl calling
Michael they are taking 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
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
Now it's so loney 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
Now it's so loney round the fields of Athenry
The Fields of Athenry by The Blarney Lads is a heartbreaking ballad that tells the story of a young couple who are separated by tragedy. The opening lines of the song set the scene of a lonely prison wall, where a young girl is calling out to her beloved Michael who is being taken away for stealing Trevelyan's corn. The lyrics further explain that Michael stole the corn to feed the poor and hungry people during the Great Famine in Ireland. He is taken away to be imprisoned, and the fate of his love, Mary, and unborn child rests heavily on his mind.
The second verse of the song switches to the point of view of Michael. He describes how he rebelled against the famine and the crown, and as a result, he was cut down. He instructs Mary to raise their child with dignity after he is gone, knowing he will never be able to see them again. The chorus repeats the poignant refrain, "Low lie the Fields of Athenry," emphasizing the sense of hopelessness and despair.
The lyrics of The Fields of Athenry depict the injustices and hardships that the Irish people faced during the Great Famine. The song has become an anthem for the Irish diaspora and is often sung at sporting events and other occasions as a symbol of Irish identity and resilience. The Blarney Lads' version of the song is known for its beautiful vocal harmonies and simple acoustic guitar accompaniment, which add to the emotional impact of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
By a lonely prison wall
The singer is in a desolate place which reminds him of his imprisonment.
I heard a young girl calling
The singer hears a female voice in the distance.
Michael they are taking you away
The young girl is addressing Michael and warning him of his capture.
For you stole Trevelyan's corn
Michael committed a theft of crops associated with Trevelyan.
So the young might see the morn
Michael committed the theft with the best intentions of offering food to the youth.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay
Michael is going to be transferred to prison by ship.
Low lie the Fields of Athenry
The fields of Athenry are in a depressed state.
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
The artist and another person shared a moment of freedom while admiring the small birds.
Our love was on the wing
The artist and the other person in the past had love that was pure and hopeful.
We had dreams and songs to sing
The artist and the other person in the past were filled with optimism, aspirations, and a desire to express themselves.
Now it's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
The fields of Athenry are now gloomy and it leaves the singer feeling desolated.
I heard a young man calling
The artist hears a man's voice in the distance.
Nothing matters Mary when you're free
The young man tells Mary that nothing is as important as being free.
Against the famine and the crown
The singer fought starvation and oppression from higher authorities.
I rebelled they cut me down
The singer's rebellion resulted in his or her imprisonment.
Now you must raise our child with dignity
The artist implores Mary to raise their offspring to have principles and values.
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.