The Fields of Athenry

A well known Irish song that most will recognize and join in the chorus. These lyrics were authored by Pete St. John in 1979 and put to a tune by Paddy Reilly, but the lyrics are based on words from a broadsheet ballad that was published in 1880s which was set to a different tune. The song refers to the story of Lord Trevelyn who brought a supply of corn back from America in a bid to battle starvation during the potato famine in the mid-nineteenth century. Unfortunately it was maize corn too hard to be milled, so useless. However, local people thought it would save them and so broke into the stores, were arrested, and subsequently deported to Australia.

By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling; "Michael, they have taken you away, For you stole Trevelyn's corn, So the young might see the morn. Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay." [CHORUS] 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... 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. 'Gainst 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 falling, As the prison ship sailed out against the sky. For she lived to hope and pray For her love in Botany Bay. It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry. CHORUS

(sheet music image)

The display of these songs on this site is only meant as a means for the Celtic Arts Center Choir to distribute songs to its members.
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Updated on Tue, Sep 25, 2007
© 2007 TechnoCelt Productions in association with The Celtic Arts Center / An Claidheamh Soluis. All rights reserved.