THE FIELDS OF ATHENRY
(Pete St. John, 1970s)
As recorded by Paddy Reilly on "The Fields of Athenry" (2009)

1. By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl callin':
"Michael, they have taken you away,
For you stole Trevelyan'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.

2. By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man callin':
"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

3. By a lonely harbour wall, she watched the last star fallin'
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky,
For she'll live in hope and pray for her love in Botany Bay.
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry. CHORUS

[* Charles Edward Trevelyan (1807-86), a senior British civil servant. As Assistant Secretary to HM Treasury (1840-59), he was responsible for administering relief during the famine, but his "quasi-genocidal anti-Irish racial sentiment" and "strident belief in laissez-faire economics" prevented him from doing a decent job.]

Howard, hope you have the tune to this lovely song. I am posting this now and will follow with "Carrickfergus" in a new posting.
Regards,
RoB