Subject: Lyr Add: The other fields of Athenry...^^ From: MartinRyan Date: 10 Sep 02 - 05:46 AM In an earlier thread on Pete St. John's "Fields of Athenry", I mentioned that there was another song about the area - in a much more traditional style. As far as I know, it was written about thirty years ago - I have the author's name at home and will add it later. It's sung to the ubiquitous "Star of the County Down" - but slowly and liltingly. I think its one of the nicest laments for lost youth that I've heard. Here's a few verses from a version recorded by the fine Kerry singer, Tim Dennehy: DOWN BY THE CLARIN'S MOSSY BANKS Down by the Clarin's mossy banks, one evening I did stray, To while away the leisure hours, before the close of day. My mind began to wander to the days long, long gone by When I roamed as free as the Gaoth na Sí o'er the fields of Athenry. It was often with our dogs and sticks, just at the break of day, Barefooted over the dew-clad grass how carelessly we did stray, To hunt the rabbit and course the hare, 'til the moon rose in the sky. Oh they were the happy days we spent 'round the fields of Athenry. And we had some famous hunting dogs – I'll mention but a few. There was Speed and Spot and Rebel brave; we had noble Murty too. But Bruno was the king of all, as over the sod he'd fly, And 'twas woe betide the hare that strayed 'round the fields of Athenry. All through the long hot summer days, through those green fields we strayed, While a youthful blood coursed in our veins and death seemed far away. Sure we thought we were immortal and 'twas just the old that die, But now there's few of the friends I knew, round the fields of Athenry. Ah but now I'm old and my head is grey and I'm bowed with the weight of years. When I think about those happy times, sure my eyes grow dim with tears. But still I love to ramble where the trout rise to the fly, Down by the Clarin's mossy banks that flows through Athenry. And soon the Lord will come for me and my final peace be made On that hallowed hill above the town – 'tis there I will be laid And when the final judgement comes with its fanfare from the sky I will rise and then I will hunt again – 'round the fields of Athenry^^ Note: "Gaoth na Sí" means "fairy wind". Pronounced roughly gway-na-shee, with that middle syllable short and unstressed. Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The other fields of Athenry... From: Joan from Wigan Date: 10 Sep 02 - 02:19 PM On Tim Dennehy's website, he credits the words to Tony Waldron and John Flanagan. The lyrics on his site include two extra verses, making a total of eight: click here, and he says the original has twelve verses. It is on the tracklist of his CD 'Farewell to Miltown Malbay'. Thanks for posting the words, Martin, it's a good song. Joan |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The other fields of Athenry... From: MartinRyan Date: 10 Sep 02 - 02:49 PM Thanks, Joan. I never knew Tim had a website! I have a vague memory of hearing a guy called Tony Holleran singing the song many years ago - he ran the Athlone Folk Club for years. Other than that, Tim is the only other I've heard. Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The other fields of Athenry... From: MartinRyan Date: 13 May 03 - 06:28 PM I met John Flanagan at a session in Kinvara last night. I didn't realise who he was - and sang my short version of his song! He sang (beautifully) the remaining verses and promised to send me a set. I look forward to having the complete song at last. Incidentally, he says he wrote it in 1983. Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The other fields of Athenry... From: MartinRyan Date: 29 Nov 09 - 01:15 PM A copy of the full version of John Flanagan's fine song duly arrived in the post this week. As he said himself Long promised, comes at last! I'll post them when I have a chance. Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The other fields of Athenry... From: MartinRyan Date: 01 Apr 11 - 10:41 AM Refresh to remind myself! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The other fields of Athenry... From: MartinRyan Date: 17 Oct 11 - 03:41 PM .... again... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The other fields of Athenry... From: GUEST,John Moulden Date: 17 Oct 11 - 03:55 PM For comparison when you get down to entering the words, these are those that John's daughter, Una sent me some time ago with some information. My contributions are in square brackets. This is the original text of "The Fields Of Athenry". [Composed during the summer of 1985 or thereabouts by John Flanagan and Tony Waldron and based on Tony's memories and local knowledge. J Flanagan from Corrofin, Co Clare is a retired Forest Officer living at Caraughwell, Co Galway. Tony Waldron was born near Athenry in the village? of Stoneleigh known locally as Clumper. John Moulden] 1. Down by the Clarin's mossy banks one evening I did stray, To while away those hours before the break of day, When my mind began to wander to days long long gone by, When I roamed as free as gaoith na S¡ogh, o'er the Fields of Athenry. 2. Oh how often with our dogs and sticks, before the break of day, Barefooted o'er the dew clad grass how carelessly we did stray, To hunt the rabbit and course the hare, 'til the moon rose in the sky, Ah these were the happy days we spent, round the Fields of Athenry. 3. We had some famous hunting dogs I'll mention but a few, We had Speed and Spot and Rebel Brave, we had noble Murty too, But Bruno was the king of all as o'er the sod he'd fly, And t'was woe betide the hare that strayed 'round the Fields of Athenry. 4. As the sun went down a hare we found upon Graig Abbey hill, And the hunt we had that evening it's in my memory still, We were hungry and our dogs were tired but we made off in full cry, As for Toorkeel the hare did wheel, from the Fields of Athenry. 5. The hunting done by the bright new moon our homeward trek we'd make, Across the bogs to Poll Mhic Eoin by Cahertubber Lake, And then we'd climb up Crucan Cabair, the lights of home to spy, And we'd hear the curlews plaintive call, o'er the Fields of Athenry. 6. Now Crucan Cabair that fairy hill it is no longer there, The gravel trucks have hauled it off to Galway city fair, To make concrete for foundations and the fairies had to fly, Before diggers and bulldozers in the Fields of Athenry. 7. All through the long hot Summer days through those green fields we'd stray, While the youthful blood coursed in our veins and death seemed far away, We thought we were immortal, that it's just the old that die, Ah but now there's few of the friends I knew, 'round the Fields of Athenry. 8. I remember now young Timmy, he was wild and had no care, As he sped across the Moneen you could see his flaxen hair, Just to watch himself and Rebel, it would fill your heart with joy, As they hunted for the rabbits 'round the Fields of Athenry. 9. I recall to mind young Joseph, who joined the Irish Guards, He was tall and square with blonde hair, he outran us all by yards, But I know in all his wandering beneath that alien sky, His heart was at home a hunting 'round the Fields of Athenry. 10. There's no heath on the moorland now where once we coursed the hare, The furze clad hills where the rabbits were, they now look gaunt and bare, Where Bruno made that mighty leap, as the pheasant rose on high, Where that Rannach grew there's houses now, in that Field near Athenry. 11. And now I'm old and my head is grey and I'm bowed with the weight of years, When I think about those happy times my eyes grow dim with tears, But still I love to ramble where the trout rise to the fly, Down by the Clarin's mossy banks that flows through Athenry. 12. The Good Lord soon will come for me and my final peace be made, In that hallowed hill above the town it's there I will be laid, But when the final judgement comes with it's fanfare from the sky, I will rise up then and hunt again through the Fields of Athenry. [Although verse 7 is in its original place - John has now moved it to become verse 10 - J ohn Moulden] Tim Dennehy's version is the exact same except for the fact that he sings the verses in this order and leaves out verses 3, 4, 5 and 10 : 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12. There is a few tiny changes in syntax also, eg. Tim sings the last line as "I will rise and then I will hunt again 'round the fields of Athenry". |
Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN BY THE CLARIN'S MOSSY BANKS From: MartinRyan Date: 17 Oct 11 - 04:44 PM Thanks for that, John. The set John F. gave me is a photocopy of a manuscript in his own hand - complete with with old script in the occasional Irish word! Minor differences from the version Una gave you: ---------------------------------------------- 1. Down by the Clarin's mossy banks one evening I did stray, To while away those leisure hours before the close of day, When my mind began to wander to days now long gone by, When I roamed as free as gaoith na Síogh, o'er the Fields of Athenry. 2. How often with our dogs and sticks, just at the break of day, Barefooted o'er the dew clad grass we carelessly did stray, To hunt the rabbit and course the hare, 'til the moon rose in the sky, Ah those were the happy days we spent, round the Fields of Athenry. 3. We had some famous hunting dogs I'll mention but a few, We had Speed and Spot and Rebel, we had noble Murty too, But Bruno was the king of all as o'er the sod he'd fly, And t'was woe betide the hare that strayed 'round the Fields of Athenry. 4. As the sun went down a hare we found upon Greg Abbey hill, And the hunt we had that evening is in my memory still, We were hungry and our dogs were tired but we made off in full cry, As for Toorkeel the hare did wheel, from the Fields of Athenry. 5. Our hunting done by the bright new moon our homeward trek we'd make, Across the bogs to Poll Mhic Eoin by Cahertubber Lake, And then we'd climb up Crocán Cower, the lights of home to spy, And we'd hear the curlews plaintive call, o'er the Fields of Athenry. 6. Now Crocán Cower, that fairy hill it is no longer there, The gravel trucks have hauled it off to Galway city fair, To make concrete for foundations and the fairies had to fly, Before diggers and bulldozers in the Fields of Athenry. 7. I remember well young Timmy, he was wild and had no care, As he sped across the moorland you could see his flaxen hair, Just to watch himself and Rebel, it would fill your heart with joy, As they hunted for the rabbits 'round the Fields of Athenry. 8. I recall to mind young Joseph, who joined the Irish Guards, He was tall and fair with blonde hair, he outran us all by yards, But I know in all his wandering beneath that alien sky, His heart was home a hunting 'round the Fields of Athenry. 9. All through those long hot Summer days through those green fields we'd stray, And the youthful blood flowed in our veins and death seemed far away, Sure we thought we were immortal, that 'twas just the old that die, Ah but now there's few of those friends I knew, 'round the Fields of Athenry. 10. There's no heath on the moorland where once we coursed the hare, The furzy hills where the rabbits were, they now look gaunt and bare, Where Bruno made that mighty leap, as the pheasant rose on high, Where that runnach grew there's houses now, in that Field near Athenry. 11. And now I'm old and my head is grey and I'm bowed with the weight of years, When I think about those happy times my eyes grow dim with tears, Ah but still I like to ramble where the trout rise to the fly, Down by the Clarin's mossy banks that flows through Athenry. 12. The Good Lord soon will come for me and my final peace be made, In that hallowed hill above the town it's there I will be laid, But when the final judgement comes with it's fanfare from the sky, I will rise up then and hunt again through the Fields of Athenry. Note: "runnach" is the Irish word raithneach = furze. With John's full knowledge, I still stick to singing essentially verses 1,2,3,9,12 distilling it down to the hunting images. It's a fine song at any length IMHO! Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Down by the Clarin's Mossy Banks From: MartinRyan Date: 16 Mar 12 - 07:35 PM refresh |
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