The Fields Of Athenry
The High Kings Lyrics
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I heard a young girl callin':
"Michael, they have taken you away
For you stole Trevelyn's corn
So the young might see the morn
As a prison ship lies waiting in the bay"
(Chorus)
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"
(Chorus)
By a lonely harbor wall
She watched the last star fallin'
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she lives to hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry
(Chorus X2)
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.
The Fields of Athenry is a song that tells the story of a young couple who are forcibly separated from each other due to the harsh social and political conditions of 19th century Ireland. The man, Michael, is arrested and sentenced to deportation to Australia for stealing food during the Great Famine, while the woman, Mary, is left alone to raise their child with dignity. The song's lyrics evoke a sense of loneliness and despair as they paint a picture of the harsh conditions of life at the time. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Low lie the fields of Athenry, where once we watched the small free birds fly", hints at the idea of freedom and the longing for a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
By a lonely prison wall
The singer is located next to a prison wall which looks isolated.
I heard a young girl callin':
The singer hears a girl's voice coming from the wall.
"Michael, they have taken you away
The girl calls out the name of her beloved who has been apprehended.
For you stole Trevelyn's corn
Michael stole corn belonging to Trevelyn's estate.
So the young might see the morn
The theft was done to help the poor and the hungry.
As a prison ship lies waiting in the bay"
The stolen goods were not valued for their worth, a criminal act was still committed, and Michael is now imprisoned.
Low lie the fields of Athenry
A reflection upon the physical attributes of the local Athenry valley which is predominantly low-lying.
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
A past event with the artist's loved one - nature has always been a visible component of this valley.
Our love was on the wing
The artist and their loved one had dreams and aspirations, they were in love and felt free.
We had dreams and songs to sing
The artist and loved one shared a love for singing and culture.
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry
The singer is currently no longer with the loved one and nature around them, which invokes feelings of isolation and loneliness.
I heard a young man calling:
The artist hears a man's voice coming from the prison wall instead of the girl's.
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
The man (presumably Michael) is expressing his true feelings to Mary.
Against the famine and the Crown
In the context of Ireland, Michael is rebelling against a Crown that has little regard for the poor population and is experiencing famine as a result.
I rebelled, they cut me down
Michael's rebellion resulted in him being caught and arrested.
Now you must raise our child with dignity"
Michael can no longer be with his beloved Mary and must rely on her to raise their child with respect, despite the difficult circumstances.
By a lonely harbor wall
The artist is now located near a deserted harbor.
She watched the last star fallin'
The singer watches the night sky waiting for the prison ship carrying Michael to depart.
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
The prison ship slowly moves out of sight, taking Michael with it.
For she lives to hope and pray
The artist - Mary - lives solely hoping and praying for Michael's safe return home.
For her love in Botany Bay
Michael has been sent to the faraway Botany Bay settlement and Mary yearns to be reunited.
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry
The artist is surrounded by physical isolation, emotional pain, and longing.
Contributed by Brooklyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.