It was in 1963 that three neighbouring children from a quiet working-class Dublin suburb, Inchicore, brothers Brian and Derek and a pal Noel Nagle started playing round the fleadhs of Ireland more for fun than anything else. They used to get together at weekends playing Fleadh cheoils or music festivals, mainly as a pastime. Thoughts of fame and riches were a world away.
Brian and Noel had taken tin whistle lessons at the Pipers Club in Thomas Street in Dublin, while Derek took up the mandolin for no better reason than his father played it. During the summer of 1963 the four of them had hitch-hiked across Ireland, from Dublin to Kerry, for a weekend at a Fleadh Ceoil, an annual gathering of traditional Irish musicians where there's lashings of drink and non-stop music. The lads were really there for the beer although they did play and sing, but only for their own amusement.
Brian Warfield recalls what happened next: "I remember arriving in Killarney fairly late at night and looking around for somewhere to bed down. It was two o'clock in the morning as we trooped through the streets of the town and probably, because we had a few drinks in us, we started to play and sing. It was August and there were still some people on the streets. A few of them gathered around us as we sang and after a dozen tunes a fella with an American accent came up and asked us if we knew some song or other. We knew it - and played it for him."
In 2002 Derek Warfield left the group to pursue a solo career but the rump of The Wolfe Tones still tour constantly, usually appearing at small function halls. However, 2004 was their last tour year doing that. They continue to tour as a three-piece band comprising Brian Warfield, Noel Nagle and Tommy Byrne.
The well-known rebel song, "Celtic Symphony" was written by Brian Warfield in 1987 for the 100th anniversary of Celtic Football Club. It has been covered by countless bands around the world. Other famous songs written by the group include Joe McDonnell, a song about the life and death of the IRA Volunteer who was the 5th person to die on the 1981 Hunger Strike, which is also said to be their most popular stage song.
Four Seasons
The Wolfe Tones Lyrics
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In a cycle that spins our life away
The new year it is here and the old one has gone
For time it doesn't stop for any one
For 3 months of the year is the season of the spring
When all the birds begin to sing
Everything's bright and new, spring lambs, trees budding too
And the Four Seasons come …
Now the sun is on the sea and the wind is blowing free
The summertime is here in all its glory
In these months of gay life our cares are all unknown
It's like unto ourselves when we were young
And the Four Seasons come …
Soon the moon will hide its light from the heavens in the night
Too fast are (sic) these sunny days are fading
But there's beauty to be seen in these autumn leaves once green
And our lives, like these leaves, are decaying
And the Four Seasons …
Now stormy winds do blow with its (sic) frost and wind and snow
The harshness of wintertime is here
And at this late stage man reaches his old age
And the cycle meets its end where it began
And the Four Seasons … (last line of chorus repeated once)
The Wolfe Tones' Four Seasons is a reflection on the cyclical nature of life and the passage of time. The song begins with the idea that the four seasons come and go in an endless cycle that spins away the years of our lives. The passing of time is inevitable and unstoppable. The old year has gone, and the new year is upon us, and everything keeps moving forward.
The song then moves to describe each of the four seasons and how they correspond to different stages of life. Spring is a time of new beginnings, where everything is bright and fresh, like a child's outlook on the world. Summer is a time of joy and carelessness, where the cares of the world are forgotten, and life is like that of a young person. Autumn is a time of change, where beautiful fading leaves remind us that life is decaying, and everything must come to an end. Finally, winter is a time of harshness and aging, where man reaches his old age, and the cycle of life comes full circle.
In summary, Four Seasons is a poignant reflection on the passing of time and how it relates to the different stages of life. As humans, we cannot escape the cycle of life and death, and we must embrace each new season as it comes and goes.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the Four Seasons come, and the Four Seasons go
The changing seasons mark the passage of time in our lives
In a cycle that spins our life away
The seasons come and go in a continuous cycle, just like our lives
The new year it is here and the old one has gone
The start of a new year marks the end of the previous year
For time it doesn't stop for any one
Time never stops, regardless of how we feel about it
For 3 months of the year is the season of the spring
Spring lasts for three months each year
When all the birds begin to sing
Birds become more active and vocal during the spring
Everything's bright and new, spring lambs, trees budding too
Spring brings new life, including newborn lambs and budding trees
It's like unto ourselves when just a child
Spring reminds us of our own youthful innocence and energy
Now the sun is on the sea and the wind is blowing free
Summer brings sunny days and breezy weather
In these months of gay life our cares are all unknown
Summer is a carefree time when we are able to let go of our worries
It's like unto ourselves when we were young
Summer reminds us of our own youthful joy and freedom
Soon the moon will hide its light from the heavens in the night
Autumn nights become longer and darker as the season progresses
Too fast are (sic) these sunny days are fading
Summer ends too quickly, leaving us wanting more
But there's beauty to be seen in these autumn leaves once green
Fall colors are beautiful, even as the leaves begin to fall and the season comes to an end
And our lives, like these leaves, are decaying
We all experience physical and mental decay as we age, just like leaves falling off a tree
Now stormy winds do blow with its (sic) frost and wind and snow
Winter brings cold, snowy and windy weather
The harshness of wintertime is here
Winter can be difficult and challenging, especially for those who are older or struggling with health issues
And at this late stage man reaches his old age
Winter can be a metaphor for old age, a time when life slows down and we reflect on our mortality
And the cycle meets its end where it began
The changing seasons mark the cycle of life, from birth and youth to old age and death
And the Four Seasons … (last line of chorus repeated once)
The seasons come and go in a never-ending cycle, just like our lives
Contributed by Sydney M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wilfriedschuler3796
Wonderful song must be over 40 years old
@noelcampell3837
I had the pleasant fortune to see The Wolfe Tones live singing this. The best Irish traditional bands ever.
@snowymk2
I grew up with my dad playing all sorts of Irish folk music (he would play in a few bands on St Patricks day as well). My father passed in 1992. This song makes me think of him. He was no saint to be sure,.......but I DO miss him.
@ottokar1872
mine's gone in 1969 i was 19 we just cross each other on the life path.
@nixcool
same here, but with me Ma. May they both be in heaven an hour before the devil know's their dead....❤
@nixcool
*they're
@babaaurhum1
One the most beautiful popular song I have ever heard! great!
@kenmcdaid4014
Great song lovely lament easy listening
@tacticalwhiskey3766
Beautiful song, making me cry, but beautiful
@jmagowan12
I hope your name is a band.