In 1968, the predecessor of the Juno’s named The Irish Rovers Canada’s, “Folk Group of the Year”, and the following year, they received a Grammy nomination for “Folk Performance of the Year”.
As hosts of three national television series in Canada and Ireland, through the 1970's and 80s, The Irish Rovers increased the popularity of Irish music by way of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, personally asked the band if they could “please become Canadian” so that they could officially represent Canada throughout the world. Since then, they have represented Canada at no less than five world Expos, and in recognition for a quarter century of contributions to the International music world, The Irish Rovers won the Performing Rights Organization's (PROCAN) 'Harold Moon Award'.
Although all members of the band hail from Ireland, a number of their biggest hits were often "non-Irish". Their own rousing, traditional Irish compositions, however, do comprise the bulk of their music.
By the 90’s, their songwriting was even more prolific than their early years, and production of albums wasn’t about to slow down. Since they desired the freedom that as a younger band, they could not afford, in ’93 The Irish Rovers established their own record company, Rover Records. Their songs tell the story of the Irish, whether it’s a lost love, a sailor on leave, or the simple good taste of a Guinness. Rover Records has put out their last eleven albums, including Celtic Collection, Come Fill Up Your Glasses, Down by the Lagan Side, Another Round, Still Rovin', a Christmas album, and their greatest hits, 40 Years A-Rovin'.
Founding member George Millar is from Ballymena, original member Wilcil McDowell is from Larne, John Reynolds from Belfast, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Ian Millar from Ballymena, and percussionist Fred Graham is also from Belfast.
Former members include founding member Jimmy Ferguson who passed away in 1997 and Joe Millar.
My Green Valleys
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she's fast moving out to the sea
On a ship bound for St. Johns three thousand miles away
A human cargo: my comrades and me
Fare thee well, green valleys. God keep you the same
If only in my mind you'll be
I'm sailing dark waters for far Americay
It hurts me to think of the things I left behind
Though the famine has blackened the land
And to look now for something that I may never find
It's a problem that's now close at hand
Fare thee well, green valleys. God keep you the same
If only in my mind you'll be
I'm sailing dark waters for far Americay
Never more my green valleys to see
There's a fever a-ragin' and the winds have died away
And our journey may no longer be
Though the plague is a shadow that lingers night and day
Warmer thoughts of green valleys I see
Fare thee well, green valleys. God keep you the same
If only in my mind you'll be
I'm sailing dark waters for far Americay
Never more my green valleys to see
Fare thee well, green valleys. God keep you the same
If only in my mind you'll be
I'm sailing dark waters for far Americay
Never more my green valleys to see
Never more my green valleys to see
The Irish Rovers' "My Green Valleys" is a poignant and melancholic song about leaving one’s homeland and embarking on a treacherous journey to a foreign land. The song describes the perspective of an Irish man, who is leaving behind his home, family and friends to pursue a better life in the USA. He is sailing on a ship bound for St. Johns which is three thousand miles away. The seagulls are calling and the wind is in the sails as they move out to the sea. The singer is not alone on this voyage, he is with his comrades, and they are referred to as a human cargo.
The singer mourns the loss of his homeland, Ireland’s ‘Green Valleys’. The lyrics of the song convey the sense of deep sadness and longing for his homeland. He hopes that God will keep his home safe and secure, although he is uncertain if he will ever see it again. The migrants have set foot into a new and unfamiliar world, and the singer is uncertain if he will find anything there that he left behind. The song relays the emotional turmoil experienced by people who are forced to leave everything behind and start a new life in an unknown land.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the seagulls are callin' and the wind is in the sails
The ship is sailing with the seagulls and wind as companions.
And she's fast moving out to the sea
The ship is moving quickly towards the sea.
On a ship bound for St. Johns three thousand miles away
The ship is headed towards a place called St. Johns, which is three thousand miles away.
A human cargo: my comrades and me
The people on board the ship are referred to as 'human cargo.'
Fare thee well, green valleys. God keep you the same
The artist bids farewell to the green valleys, hoping they remain unchanged by time and circumstances.
If only in my mind you'll be
The singer acknowledges that the green valleys will exist only in his memories.
I'm sailing dark waters for far Americay
The ship is voyaging towards a place called Americay, distant from the green valleys.
Never more my green valleys to see
The artist laments that he may never see his green valleys again.
It hurts me to think of the things I left behind
The artist experiences emotional pain at the thought of what he had to leave behind in his green valleys.
Though the famine has blackened the land
The green valleys have been marked by famine, causing devastation to the land.
And to look now for something that I may never find
The singer searches for something he may never find in his new surroundings.
It's a problem that's now close at hand
The issue of finding what he seeks is now a pressing matter.
There's a fever a-ragin' and the winds have died away
A fever is spreading among the people on board the ship, and the winds have subsided.
And our journey may no longer be
The journey may be cut short due to the fever and lack of wind.
Though the plague is a shadow that lingers night and day
The plague is a constant threat that persists throughout the day and night.
Warmer thoughts of green valleys I see
In the face of the present hardships, fond memories of the green valleys bring comfort to the artist.
Never more my green valleys to see
The artist repeats his sorrow at the likelihood of not seeing his green valleys again.
Fare thee well, green valleys. God keep you the same
The poem ends with the singer bidding farewell to the green valleys once again, hoping they remain unchanged and wishing them well.
If only in my mind you'll be
The singer is resigned to the fact that his memories will be the only way he can experience the green valleys going forward.
I'm sailing dark waters for far Americay
The poem ends on an ominous note with the ship sailing towards uncertain and dangerous waters as it journeys towards Americay.
Never more my green valleys to see
The repetition of this line at the end emphasizes the finality of the artist's sorrow at having left his green valleys behind forever.
Contributed by Chase E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.