The duo formed by Leo O'Kelly & Sonny… Read Full Bio ↴The artist name is Tír na nÓg.
The duo formed by Leo O'Kelly & Sonny Condell in Dublin, Ireland in early 1970, caused somewhat of a sensation, both on the folk and rock scenes, almost as soon as they stepped off the boat train from Ireland. Within two weeks they had signed a deal with Chrysalis Records and, by the summer, they had established themselves in the London clubs, with their impromptu appearances and beautiful original songs, typically featuring intricate acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing.
They immediately started touring Britain and Europe with Jethro Tull and Procol Harum before releasing their first album for Chrysalis, entitled simply, Tír na nÓg. The album was Melody Maker album of the month. They gathered followers of every musical persuasion from their appearances with bands as disparate as Hawkwind, The Who, Fairport Convention and Roxy Music, while at the same time headlining their own college and club gigs.
Their music, which is often described as progressive folk, was championed by John Peel, resulting in many Peel sessions in the early 70s. Two further studio albums, ‘A Tear and a Smile’ and ‘Strong in the Sun’ followed on through to 1974, after which they returned to Ireland to go their separate ways.
In 1985 they got back together again, whilst still pursuing their individual musical careers. Some UK appearances occurred up to 1995 but it wasn’t until 2010 that they revisited these shores, launching a series of highly successful, intensive short tours. The audiences throughout 2010 and 2011 were thrilled to see them back. Tír na nÓg are now on the road again for 2012 performances.
A new album, 'Live At Sirius', which features many of their timeless songs from the three Chrysalis albums, including their version of Nick Drake's "Free Ride", is now available.
"Tir na nOg blew me away - that mix of Irishness, folk and Led Zeppelin" (David Kitt - Mojo Magazine)
"Sonny Condell & Leo O'Kelly continue to defy real time!" (Kevin Courtney - Irish Times)
"Startlingly original lines in songwriting and arrangements" (Siobhan Long - Irish Times)
More information can be found at www.tirnanog-progfolk.com
Piccadilly
Tir Na Nog Lyrics
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Thought I heard the sea
And a thousand voices laughed at me
I saw an aeroplane up in the sky, I shot it down
Yes, I shot it down
And I watched it fall without a sound
Please don't leave me in this lonely, lonely city
With every word you say you're breathing sweet air I knew
And I'm bleeding with the scent and with the sound.
We saw a boy wave from the bridge but nobody waved back
Not a soul waved back
And he waved until the day grew black
I know you did oppose it but you filled my glass again
Filled it to the brim
And you're hoping it might ease the pain
Please don't leave me in this lonely, lonely city
Please don't leave me all alone in this town
With every word you say you're breathing sweet air I knew
And I'm bleeding with the scent and with the sound.
I stood in Piccadilly and I thought I heard the sea
Thought I heard the sea
And a thousand voices laughed at me
Please don't leave me in this lonely, lonely city
Please don't leave me all alone in this town
With every word you say you're breathing sweet air I knew
And I'm bleeding with the scent and with the sound.
The lyrics to "Piccadilly" by Tir Na Nog speak of loneliness and isolation in a crowded, bustling city. The singer stands in Piccadilly, a busy street in London, and hears the sound of the sea, an imagined escape from the overwhelming noise of the city. However, the laughter of a thousand voices reminds him that he is still very much present in this urban environment. He then sees an airplane in the sky and shoots it down, perhaps as a way of expressing his frustration and desire for control in a world that is beyond his grasp.
The second verse speaks to the singer's desperation for connection and affection. He begs someone not to leave him alone in the city, and finds solace in the sweet air and sound of their words. However, he is also "bleeding" with the pain of loneliness, suggesting that even the brief moments of connection are not enough to alleviate his suffering. The final verse repeats the opening lines, emphasizing the cyclical nature of the singer's experience and suggesting that there is no escape from the loneliness and isolation of life in the city.
Overall, the lyrics to "Piccadilly" are a poignant reflection on the toll that urban life can take on the human spirit, and the desperate need for human connection in the face of isolation and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
I stood in Piccadilly and I thought I heard the sea
Standing amidst chaos and commotion, I longed for the soothing sound of the sea
Thought I heard the sea
My mind played tricks and taunted me with a distant memory of the sea
And a thousand voices laughed at me
The mocking sounds of the city seemed to be conspiring against my peace of mind
I saw an aeroplane up in the sky, I shot it down
In my desperation for control and power, I lashed out and ended an innocent life
Yes, I shot it down
With a single act of violence, I indulged in a momentary sense of superiority
And I watched it fall without a sound
As the plane fell to its impending doom, my conscience remained silent and apathetic
Please don't leave me in this lonely, lonely city
I fear being left alone in this desolate and lonely place
Please don't leave me all alone in this town
The thought of being abandoned in this place fills me with despair
With every word you say you're breathing sweet air I knew
Your every word is like a breath of fresh air that I crave for in this suffocating place
And I'm bleeding with the scent and with the sound.
I'm consumed by a yearning for the familiar comfort of the sights, sounds, and smells of home
We saw a boy wave from the bridge but nobody waved back
We witnessed an innocent gesture of goodwill, but it was met with apathy and indifference
Not a soul waved back
The absence of a response left the boy feeling rejected and alone
And he waved until the day grew black
The boy refused to give up on his hope for connection, but the night eventually swallowed him up
I know you did oppose it but you filled my glass again
Despite knowing the harm it caused, you enabled my destructive behavior by indulging me once more
Filled it to the brim
You pushed me towards the edge of excess and self-destruction, with no regard for the consequences
And you're hoping it might ease the pain
You offered me temporary relief from my troubles, but it only served to prolong them in the long run
Contributed by David H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bozztor
on So Freely
You gave your love so freely, made me wonder was it real
But then I was just the same with mine and I know the way I feel
Know the way I feel, you know?
When strangers meet like we did it can leave you feeling sad
But that's not the way it left us, no, love is not like that
Love is not like that, you know?
And I could live so long on your memory alone
Yes, I could live so long on your memory alone
You write and say you miss me, well, you know, I miss you, too
But it may be such a long time before I'll be seeing you
I'll be seeing you, my love
Tell me you believe ¡n me and I'll believe in you
Oh, I see that's all wrong but you can show me what to do
Teach me how to love you
And I could live so long on your memory alone
Yes, I could live so long on your memory alone
Matilda
on So Freely
Could someone pleaaase post the lyrics for “so freely”?? ☮️
Matilda
on So Freely
Can someone pleeeease post the lyrics? ☮️