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{{Short description|1979 song written by Pete St. John}} | |||
'''The Fields of Athenry''' is a song about the ], which was composed in the ] by Pete St. John. The words however, originate from a broadsheet ballad published in the ]. A version of the song was published by Devlin in ] with a different tune to the one known today. Pete St. John is a prolific composer of widely sung modern ]; his other most famous song is "Dublin in the Rare Ol' Time". His songs often express regret for the loss of old certainties (the latter song regrets the loss of ] and the Metropole Ballroom, two symbols of old Dublin, as progress makes a "city of my town"). "The Fields of ]" is widely seen as the definitive folk song on the Famine, telling the story of the Famine through the personal experiences of someone ] and ]. | |||
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2020}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} | |||
{{Infobox song | |||
| name = The Fields of Athenry | |||
| cover = | |||
| alt = | |||
| type = song | |||
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| published = 1979 | |||
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| genre = ] | |||
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| writer = ] | |||
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| lyricist = | |||
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}} | |||
"'''The Fields of Athenry'''" is a song written in 1979 by ] in the style of an ]. Set during the ] of the 1840s, the lyrics feature a fictional man from near ] in ], who stole food for his starving family and has been ] to ]. It has become a widely known, popular ] for Irish sports supporters. <ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/celebrating-a-song-for-the-people-1.689195|title=Celebrating 'a song for the people'|last=Watterson|first=Johnny|date=24 December 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2019-07-30}}</ref> | |||
==History== | |||
The song, which was first recorded by ] ballad singer ], recounts the tale of a fictional Irishman in prison, reporting the story he could hear through the prison walls of another prisoner who is being deported to ] for stealing food to feed his starving family. | |||
"The Fields of Athenry" was written in 1979 by ], who stated he heard a story about a young man from the Athenry area who had been caught stealing ] to feed his family during the Irish famine years, and was deported to Australia.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="psjfaq">{{cite web|url=http://www.petestjohn.com/2003/01/01/what-are-the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-your-work/ |title=What are the most frequently asked Questions about your work? |last=St John |first=Pete |date=2003-01-01 |work=Official website |access-date=2008-09-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820042315/http://www.petestjohn.com/2003/01/01/what-are-the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-your-work/ |archive-date=20 August 2008 }}</ref> A claim was made in 1996 that a ] published in the 1880s had similar words; however, the folklorist and researcher John Moulden found no basis to this claim, and Pete St. John stated that he wrote the words as well as the music.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216155218/http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/fields-athenry.html |date=16 February 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Haines|first=Robin F. |title=Charles Trevelyan and the Great Irish Famine|publisher=Four Courts|year=2004|pages=25|isbn=1-85182-755-2}}</ref> | |||
In 1979, the song was recorded by ], reaching the top ten in the ].<ref name="psjfaq"/> The song charted again in 1982 for ], reaching number seven in Ireland,<ref>{{cite web|title=Search The Charts |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=2 |work=The Irish Charts: All There Is To Know |publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association |access-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018042138/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=2 |archive-date=18 October 2013 }}</ref> but the most successful version was released by ] in 1982. While peaking only at number four, it remained in the Irish charts for 72 weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/facts/longest_in_chart.htm|title=Facts and Figures — Longest in the Charts|work=The Irish Charts|publisher=]|access-date=2008-09-21|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227214552/http://www.irishcharts.ie/facts/longest_in_chart.htm|archive-date=27 December 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Two further versions have since reached the Irish top ten: the ] getting to number five in 1999, while ] peaked at number six in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=Search The Charts |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |work=The Irish Charts: All There Is To Know |publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association |access-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |archive-date=2 June 2009 }}</ref> | |||
The song has been recorded by many artists, but Paddy Reilly's original version, with Reilly's distinctive ] vocalisation, and orchestral arrangement, is generally seen as the definitive version. | |||
The lyrics say the convict's crime is that he "stole Trevelyan's corn"; this is a reference to ], a senior English civil servant in the administration of the ] in ]. Trevelyan famously said, "the judgement of God sent the calamity to teach the Irish a lesson".<ref name=CWS>Cecil Woodham-Smith, 1962. The Great Hunger</ref> The ] in question, wheat oats and barley, were being grown in Ireland and exported notwithstanding the potato famine: popular tradition holds that Trevelyan was culpable for failing to prevent its export. | |||
The song is also associated with ] and the ] club ] (of ], ]) which has a strong association with Ireland. Controversially a small section of Celtic fans are known to interject the song with references to the ]. Similarly, ] have adapted the song, with the main line changed to "Low lie, the fields of ]". "The Fields of Anfield Road" is sung by ] supporters to the same tune, but with subtly adapted lyrics referencing their history and stadium. The fans of ] sing the song "A Father's Advice" to the same tune. | |||
==Sporting anthem== | |||
A ] version of the song was also recorded by the Century Steel Band in the early ]. The ] ] band ] also recorded a punk-rock version of this song on their 2003 album ], as well as a softer version recorded specially for the family of Sergeant Andrew Farrar, an American ] killed in ]. Second-generation Irish ], Neck, also recorded a "pyscho-]" version of the song. Other punk versions of the song have been recorded by the bands ] and the Broken O'Briens. | |||
The song was regularly heard from on the terraces in the late 1980s from supporters of the Galway county ] team. The song was adopted by ] supporters during the ] and subsequently by ] supporters in the early 1990s.<ref>Kenny, Colum. ''Moments that Changed Us'', Gill & Macmillan, 2005</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/FIELDSAT.HTM|title=Grateful Dead Lyric And Song Finder |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216093743/http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?%2F~acsa%2Fsongfile%2FFIELDSAT.HTM |archive-date=16 February 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> | |||
Celtic Football Club in Glasgow has a large following in Ireland and among people in Scotland of Irish descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishmusicdaily.com/fields-of-athenry-sports-anthem|title=Fields of Athenry has become a sports anthem for Ireland, Celtic and Liverpool|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032949/http://www.irishmusicdaily.com/fields-of-athenry-sports-anthem|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> During the Great Famine in Ireland during the 1840s, 100,000 Irish famine victims emigrated to Glasgow. When Celtic's long-serving Irish goalkeeper ] had a testimonial match in 1991, he invited Pete St. John to attend the event and speak to the crowd before the game. St John began by thanking Glasgow for looking after the famine victims, and then began to sing "Fields of Athenry", accompanied by thousands of fans. He later described it as one of the most memorable moments of his life.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}". | |||
The song is well known as the song in the movie ] during the part Veronica was shot dead. | |||
The song's popularity, due in part to its use at sporting events, has helped to attract tourists to Athenry. In recognition of this, the town's officials invited Pete St. John to a civic reception and presented him with a mace and chain as a token of their appreciation. | |||
==Lyrics== | |||
By the lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling,<br> | |||
"Michael, they have taken you away.<br> | |||
For you stole ]'s<sup>1</sup> corn,<br> | |||
So the young might see the morn,<br> | |||
Now the prison ship lies waiting in the bay." <br> | |||
The song is also associated with the ], ], ] and ] ] teams.<ref name="storyofasong">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/story-of-a-song-80793.html|title=Story of a Song|date=2006-09-30|work=]|access-date=2008-09-21}}</ref> It is also seen by many as ], sung at the various GAA matches when the county is playing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dochara.com/the-irish/sport-the-irish/gaa-county-colours/|title=The GAA and the All Ireland Championship|work=Dochara|date=30 December 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104442/http://www.dochara.com/the-irish/sport-the-irish/gaa-county-colours/|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | |||
'''''Chorus'''''<br> | |||
''Low lie the fields of Athenry,''<br> | |||
''Where once we watched the small free birds fly.''<br> | |||
''Our love was on the wing,'' <br> | |||
''We had dreams and songs to sing,''<br> | |||
''It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.''<br> | |||
Fans of ] adopted "The Fields of Bishopstown" to the same tune, with lyrics changed from the original version. It is sung regularly at home games. | |||
By the lonely prison wall, I heard a young man calling,<br> | |||
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free. <br> | |||
'gainst the famine and the Crown <br> | |||
I rebelled, they cut me down.<br> | |||
Now you must raise our child with dignity." <br> | |||
"]" was adopted by ] supporters to the same tune, but with adapted lyrics referencing ] and ].<ref name="storyofasong"/> The song was used to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1989 ].<ref name=":0" /> | |||
'''''Chorus''''' | |||
]'s supporters, The Jak Mania also use this song as their chants with the title "Field of ]" and different lyrics in ]. | |||
By the lonely harbour wall, she watched the last star falling,<br> | |||
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky,<br> | |||
For she'll live and hope and pray<br> | |||
For her love in ].<br> | |||
It's so lonely around the fields of Athenry. <br> | |||
At the ], which featured Irish boxer ], ] of '']'' noted, "By the time Egan and Zhang emerged the great rhythmic roars of "Zhang! Zhang! Zhang!" competed to drown out the lusty warblings of a large Irish contingent who returned to singing of the problems of social isolation in rural Athenry."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0825/1219616651428.html | newspaper=The Irish Times | title=Egan earns silver lining but is left to rue what might have been | date=2008-08-08 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324075504/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0825/1219616651428.html | archive-date=24 March 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> | |||
'''''Chorus''''' | |||
During the ] group stage game against Spain, the Irish fans started singing the song roughly 83 minutes into the game and sang for the last six minutes of regulation, as well as past the full-time whistle, knowing that they were going to be eliminated from the group as they were down by four goals and had failed to accrue the points necessary to remain in the tournament. Some commentators stopped commenting for the final minutes, so the crowd could be heard. This was widely reported in the international media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/story/sport/from-the-bleachers/irish-fans-sing-the-fields-of-athenry-spain-v-ireland-euro-2012-video-159128595.html|title=Irish fans sing The Fields of Athenry, Spain v Ireland Euro 2012: VIDEO|date=14 June 2012|access-date=14 June 2012|work=IrishCentral.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617025453/http://www.irishcentral.com/story/sport/from-the-bleachers/irish-fans-sing-the-fields-of-athenry-spain-v-ireland-euro-2012-video-159128595.html|archive-date=17 June 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://politiken.dk/sport/fodbold/em2012/em2012gruppec/ECE1657034/irske-tabere-blev-hyldet-af-20000-mand-stort-kor/|title=Irske tabere blev hyldet af 20.000 mand stort kor|work=Politiken.dk|language=da|date=2012-06-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012305/http://politiken.dk/sport/fodbold/em2012/em2012gruppec/ECE1657034/irske-tabere-blev-hyldet-af-20000-mand-stort-kor/|archive-date=5 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Irish Fans Show World Their Winning Spirit">{{cite web | url=https://ottawacitizen.com/Sports/Soccer/Irish+fans+show+world+winning+spirit/6794398/story.html | title=Irish fans show world a winning spirit | publisher=ottawacitizen.com | date=16 June 2012 | access-date=17 June 2012}} {{dead link|date=March 2014}}</ref><ref name="Low Lie The Fields of Tremendous Support by Irish Football Fans">{{cite web|url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/blogs/low-lie-the-fields-of-tremendous-support-by-irish-football-fans/524469 |title=Low Lie The Fields of Tremendous Support by Irish Football Fans |publisher=Jakarta Globe |date=16 June 2012 |access-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618080936/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/blogs/low-lie-the-fields-of-tremendous-support-by-irish-football-fans/524469 |archive-date=18 June 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Los campos de Athenry">{{cite web | url=http://www.diariodemallorca.es/opinion/2012/06/16/campos-athenry/773197.html | title=Los campos de Athenry | publisher=diariodemallorca.es | date=17 June 2012 | access-date=17 June 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618051912/http://www.diariodemallorca.es/opinion/2012/06/16/campos-athenry/773197.html | archive-date=18 June 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.orf.at/stories/2126504/2126490/|title=Aus für die "besten Fans der Welt" – sport.ORF.at|work=sport.ORF.at|date=19 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023902/http://sport.orf.at/stories/2126504/2126490/|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Ireland fans shake the nations of Europe with allegiance">{{cite web | url=http://www.admcsport.com/ar/football/article-48236/%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%B2-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%85-%D8%A3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A8 | title=Ireland fans shake the nations of Europe with allegiance | publisher=admcsport.com | date=16 June 2012 | access-date=17 June 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619042630/http://www.admcsport.com/ar/football/article-48236/%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%B2-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%85-%D8%A3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A8 | archive-date=19 June 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="We had dreams and songs to sing">{{cite web | url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/lord-gdansk-had-dreams-songs-105709489.html | title=We had dreams and songs to sing | publisher=uk.eurosport.yahoo.com | date=15 June 2012 | access-date=17 June 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617221428/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/lord-gdansk-had-dreams-songs-105709489.html | archive-date=17 June 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=" Our fans are the best in the world">{{cite web | url=http://sportarmenia.com/25352/%D5%A7%D5%B6%D5%A4%D6%80%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%BD-%D5%B4%D5%A5%D6%80-%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AF%D6%80%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A8-%D5%AC%D5%A1%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B5.html | title=Our fans are the best in the world | date=15 June 2012 | access-date=17 June 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619133948/http://sportarmenia.com/25352/%D5%A7%D5%B6%D5%A4%D6%80%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%BD-%D5%B4%D5%A5%D6%80-%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AF%D6%80%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A8-%D5%AC%D5%A1%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B5.html | archive-date=19 June 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Fans singing in unison for the Irish ">{{cite web | url=http://www.hinews.cn/news/system/2012/06/16/014532018.shtml | title=Fans singing in unison for the Irish | publisher=www.hinews.cn | date=16 June 2012 | access-date=17 June 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008001506/http://www.hinews.cn/news/system/2012/06/16/014532018.shtml | archive-date=8 October 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="The Fields of Athenry: Der Stolz der Unterlegenen">{{cite news | url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/em-2012/the-fields-of-athenry-der-stolz-der-unterlegenen-11786856.html | title=The Fields of Athenry: Der Stolz der Unterlegenen | newspaper=Faz.net | publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung | date=15 June 2012 | language=de | access-date=18 June 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618035452/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/em-2012/the-fields-of-athenry-der-stolz-der-unterlegenen-11786856.html | archive-date=18 June 2012 | df=dmy-all | last1=Dreis | first1=Achim }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ciacha.net/ciacha/1,111473,11939189,Z_cyklu__przezyjmy_to_jeszcze_raz__Niesamowita_piesn.html|title=Z cyklu: przeżyjmy to jeszcze raz. Niesamowita pieśń fanów Irlandii|work=Ciacha.net|language=pl|date=2012-06-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616221837/http://www.ciacha.net/ciacha/1,111473,11939189,Z_cyklu__przezyjmy_to_jeszcze_raz__Niesamowita_piesn.html|archive-date=16 June 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | |||
==Recordings== | |||
Other artists to have recorded versions include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] with daughter ], Seanchai & The Unity Squad, Scottish band North Sea Gas, English band Kelda with vocalist Jack Routledge, US group Shilelagh Law, US punk band ], New Zealanders ] and ], ], London-Irish band ], ], ], ], ] and ]. It was also recorded by Serbian bands ] and ], and US Celtic/folk band ]. In 2013, it was released by ] and ] of ] for their album ''Acoustically Irish''. | |||
A ] version of this song was recorded by the ] in the early 1980s. | |||
Irish-]ers, ], released a "Psycho-]" version of the song as a single in support of the ] during the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Neck-Heres-Mud-In-Yer-Eye/release/1141437|title=Neck (2) – Here's Mud In Yer Eye!|work=Discogs|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803140431/https://www.discogs.com/Neck-Heres-Mud-In-Yer-Eye/release/1141437|archive-date=3 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/neck|title=Neck discography|website=RateYourMusic}}</ref> ] recorded two versions of the song: the first, an uptempo rock arrangement, appeared on their 2003 album '']''; the second was a softer version they recorded specially for the family of Sergeant Andrew Farrar, a United States Marine from the 2nd Military Police Battalion killed January 28, 2005 (his 31st birthday) in ], ]. Farrar was a fan of Dropkick Murphys, and requested that their version of the song be played at his funeral if he were to die in combat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/discography/releases/farrarsingle.html |title=Dropkick Murphys discography – The Fields of Athenry, Farrar version |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827042823/http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/discography/releases/farrarsingle.html |archive-date=27 August 2012 }}</ref> ] blended the song with ]'s "]" in a medley called ''Prison Love Songs''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.askewreviews.com/music/blaggards.htm | title=Review of Blaggards' "Standards" | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204636/http://www.askewreviews.com/music/blaggards.htm | archive-date=3 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Other punk versions of the song have been recorded by the bands ], ], and the Broken O'Briens. The ], a Celtic-punk band from Norway, also recorded a version on their ''Streets Of Salvation'' CD. | |||
The song was also recorded by Canadian Celtic rock band the ] on their album ''Another Day'' released in 2010. | |||
In 2003, then Cape Town based Tom Purcell recorded a haunting a cappella version, that still stands the test of time. | |||
] covered the song on his album, '']'' (2007). | |||
The song appears on the 2012 ] album ''Till We Meet Again''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chambers |first=Pete |url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/lifestyle/nostalgia/backbeat-bob-brollys-new-cd-3020494 |title=Backbeat: Bob Brolly's new CD |publisher=Trinity Mirror |newspaper=Coventry Telegraph |date=9 August 2012 |access-date=13 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815014346/http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/lifestyle/nostalgia/backbeat-bob-brollys-new-cd-3020494 |archive-date=15 August 2016 }}</ref> | |||
Welsh folk singer ] used the tune for his song "Esgair Llyn", a lament on the depopulation of rural Wales. He first recorded it in 1991 and continues to perform it in concert.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Original versions of Esgair Llyn written by Dafydd Iwan {{!}} SecondHandSongs|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/work/153230|access-date=2021-12-01|website=secondhandsongs.com}}</ref> | |||
The song has been translated to ], entitled "Raointean Ath an Rìgh," and was sung by the Scottish singer Iain "Costello" MacIver, from the ] in the ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bIl9awuIVA|title = Gaelic Song : Iain MacIver : Fields of Athenry|website = ]}}</ref> | |||
The tune was also used for the hymn by Rachael Doey, “Outside the City Wall”.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Pehwic87Siw|title = Hymn : Rachael Doey : Outside the City Wall|website = ]}}</ref> | |||
Recorded by Colm R McGuiness <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUio9vcqxzQ|title= The Fields Of Athenry (Irish Folk Ballad)|website = ]}}</ref> | |||
==In film== | |||
The song is sung in the movie '']'', by Brian O'Donnell, then aged 11, a street singer in Dublin, although it is credited on the soundtrack as "Bad News". It is also sung '']'' by a female character at a wake in the 1994 film '']''. It also appears in '']'', an anachronism, as the film is set in 1959, before the song was written,<ref>{{cite web|title=Dead Poets Society|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dead_poets_society/|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Flixster|access-date=2 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006194357/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dead_poets_society/|archive-date=6 October 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and '']''. An ''a cappella'' version of the first verse and chorus can be found during a singing contest judged by ] in the film '']''. Cancer Boy, a character in the 1996 film '']'', is briefly shown whistling the tune. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* Other rugby anthems: | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | ** ] | ||
* ] | ** ] | ||
** ] (sung by England fans) | |||
* ] | |||
** ] (Bread of Heaven) sung by Wales fans. | |||
* ] | |||
== |
==References == | ||
{{Reflist|2}} | |||
<sup>1</sup>''Trevelyan'' refers to ], a senior British civil servant in the administration of the ] in ], who saw the Famine in classic ]ian theory as a natural means of 'controlling excessive population'. Trevelyan is widely blamed for the inadequacy of the British Government's response. His reports to London underestimated the severity of the Famine and overestimated the problems that could arise in providing assistance to the starving. | |||
==External links== | |||
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{{Catholic Encyclopedia poster|Athenry}} | |||
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* {{IMDb name|2038291}} Movie appearances | |||
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{{Irish rebel songs}} | |||
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{{Munster Rugby}} | |||
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{{Ireland national rugby union team}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 12:38, 13 December 2024
1979 song written by Pete St. John
"The Fields of Athenry" | |
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Song | |
Published | 1979 |
Genre | Irish folk |
Songwriter(s) | Pete St. John |
"The Fields of Athenry" is a song written in 1979 by Pete St. John in the style of an Irish folk ballad. Set during the Great Famine of the 1840s, the lyrics feature a fictional man from near Athenry in County Galway, who stole food for his starving family and has been sentenced to transportation to the Australian penal colony at Botany Bay. It has become a widely known, popular anthem for Irish sports supporters.
History
"The Fields of Athenry" was written in 1979 by Pete St. John, who stated he heard a story about a young man from the Athenry area who had been caught stealing corn to feed his family during the Irish famine years, and was deported to Australia. A claim was made in 1996 that a broadsheet ballad published in the 1880s had similar words; however, the folklorist and researcher John Moulden found no basis to this claim, and Pete St. John stated that he wrote the words as well as the music.
In 1979, the song was recorded by Danny Doyle, reaching the top ten in the Irish Singles Chart. The song charted again in 1982 for Barleycorn, reaching number seven in Ireland, but the most successful version was released by Paddy Reilly in 1982. While peaking only at number four, it remained in the Irish charts for 72 weeks. Two further versions have since reached the Irish top ten: the Cox Crew getting to number five in 1999, while Dance to Tipperary peaked at number six in 2001.
The lyrics say the convict's crime is that he "stole Trevelyan's corn"; this is a reference to Charles Edward Trevelyan, a senior English civil servant in the administration of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in Dublin Castle. Trevelyan famously said, "the judgement of God sent the calamity to teach the Irish a lesson". The corn in question, wheat oats and barley, were being grown in Ireland and exported notwithstanding the potato famine: popular tradition holds that Trevelyan was culpable for failing to prevent its export.
Sporting anthem
The song was regularly heard from on the terraces in the late 1980s from supporters of the Galway county hurling team. The song was adopted by Republic of Ireland national football team supporters during the 1990 World Cup and subsequently by Celtic supporters in the early 1990s.
Celtic Football Club in Glasgow has a large following in Ireland and among people in Scotland of Irish descent. During the Great Famine in Ireland during the 1840s, 100,000 Irish famine victims emigrated to Glasgow. When Celtic's long-serving Irish goalkeeper Packie Bonner had a testimonial match in 1991, he invited Pete St. John to attend the event and speak to the crowd before the game. St John began by thanking Glasgow for looking after the famine victims, and then began to sing "Fields of Athenry", accompanied by thousands of fans. He later described it as one of the most memorable moments of his life.".
The song's popularity, due in part to its use at sporting events, has helped to attract tourists to Athenry. In recognition of this, the town's officials invited Pete St. John to a civic reception and presented him with a mace and chain as a token of their appreciation.
The song is also associated with the Connacht, Munster, London Irish and Ireland rugby union teams. It is also seen by many as Galway's county song, sung at the various GAA matches when the county is playing.
Fans of Cork City F.C. adopted "The Fields of Bishopstown" to the same tune, with lyrics changed from the original version. It is sung regularly at home games.
"The Fields of Anfield Road" was adopted by Liverpool supporters to the same tune, but with adapted lyrics referencing their history and stadium. The song was used to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
Persija Jakarta's supporters, The Jak Mania also use this song as their chants with the title "Field of GBK" and different lyrics in Indonesian.
At the 2008 Olympic Light Heavyweight Boxing Final, which featured Irish boxer Kenny Egan, Tom Humphries of The Irish Times noted, "By the time Egan and Zhang emerged the great rhythmic roars of "Zhang! Zhang! Zhang!" competed to drown out the lusty warblings of a large Irish contingent who returned to singing of the problems of social isolation in rural Athenry."
During the UEFA Euro 2012 group stage game against Spain, the Irish fans started singing the song roughly 83 minutes into the game and sang for the last six minutes of regulation, as well as past the full-time whistle, knowing that they were going to be eliminated from the group as they were down by four goals and had failed to accrue the points necessary to remain in the tournament. Some commentators stopped commenting for the final minutes, so the crowd could be heard. This was widely reported in the international media.
Recordings
Other artists to have recorded versions include Mary Duff, Máiréad Carlin, Paddy Reilly, Daniel O'Donnell, Frank Patterson, Ronan Tynan, Brush Shiels, James Galway, The Dubliners, Charlie Haden with daughter Petra Haden, Seanchai & The Unity Squad, Scottish band North Sea Gas, English band Kelda with vocalist Jack Routledge, US group Shilelagh Law, US punk band No Use for a Name, New Zealanders Hollie Smith and Steve McDonald, Dropkick Murphys, London-Irish band Neck, The Durutti Column, The High Kings, The Irish Tenors, Off Kilter and Kieran Moriarty. It was also recorded by Serbian bands Orthodox Celts and Tir na n'Og, and US Celtic/folk band Scythian. In 2013, it was released by Neil Byrne and Ryan Kelly of Celtic Thunder for their album Acoustically Irish.
A reggae version of this song was recorded by the Century Steel Band in the early 1980s.
Irish-Londoners, Neck, released a "Psycho-Ceilidh" version of the song as a single in support of the Republic of Ireland national football team during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Dropkick Murphys recorded two versions of the song: the first, an uptempo rock arrangement, appeared on their 2003 album Blackout; the second was a softer version they recorded specially for the family of Sergeant Andrew Farrar, a United States Marine from the 2nd Military Police Battalion killed January 28, 2005 (his 31st birthday) in Fallujah, Iraq. Farrar was a fan of Dropkick Murphys, and requested that their version of the song be played at his funeral if he were to die in combat. Blaggards blended the song with Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" in a medley called Prison Love Songs. Other punk versions of the song have been recorded by the bands No Use for a Name, The Tossers, and the Broken O'Briens. The Greenland Whalefishers, a Celtic-punk band from Norway, also recorded a version on their Streets Of Salvation CD. The song was also recorded by Canadian Celtic rock band the Mudmen on their album Another Day released in 2010. In 2003, then Cape Town based Tom Purcell recorded a haunting a cappella version, that still stands the test of time.
Johnny Logan covered the song on his album, The Irish Connection (2007).
The song appears on the 2012 Bob Brolly album Till We Meet Again.
Welsh folk singer Dafydd Iwan used the tune for his song "Esgair Llyn", a lament on the depopulation of rural Wales. He first recorded it in 1991 and continues to perform it in concert.
The song has been translated to Scottish Gaelic, entitled "Raointean Ath an Rìgh," and was sung by the Scottish singer Iain "Costello" MacIver, from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.
The tune was also used for the hymn by Rachael Doey, “Outside the City Wall”.
Recorded by Colm R McGuiness
In film
The song is sung in the movie Veronica Guerin, by Brian O'Donnell, then aged 11, a street singer in Dublin, although it is credited on the soundtrack as "Bad News". It is also sung a cappella by a female character at a wake in the 1994 film Priest. It also appears in Dead Poets Society, an anachronism, as the film is set in 1959, before the song was written, and 16 Years of Alcohol. An a cappella version of the first verse and chorus can be found during a singing contest judged by Janeane Garofalo in the film The Matchmaker. Cancer Boy, a character in the 1996 film Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, is briefly shown whistling the tune.
See also
- Irish rebel music
- List of Irish ballads
- Other rugby anthems:
- Flower of Scotland
- Ireland's Call
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (sung by England fans)
- Cwm Rhondda (Bread of Heaven) sung by Wales fans.
References
- ^ Watterson, Johnny (24 December 2010). "Celebrating 'a song for the people'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- ^ St John, Pete (1 January 2003). "What are the most frequently asked Questions about your work?". Official website. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
- Cantaria: Contemporary: Fields of Athenry Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- Haines, Robin F. (2004). Charles Trevelyan and the Great Irish Famine. Four Courts. p. 25. ISBN 1-85182-755-2.
- "Search The Charts". The Irish Charts: All There Is To Know. Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- "Facts and Figures — Longest in the Charts". The Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
- "Search The Charts". The Irish Charts: All There Is To Know. Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- Cecil Woodham-Smith, 1962. The Great Hunger
- Kenny, Colum. Moments that Changed Us, Gill & Macmillan, 2005
- "Grateful Dead Lyric And Song Finder". Archived from the original on 16 February 2012.
- "Fields of Athenry has become a sports anthem for Ireland, Celtic and Liverpool". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Story of a Song". Irish Independent. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
- "The GAA and the All Ireland Championship". Dochara. 30 December 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- "Egan earns silver lining but is left to rue what might have been". The Irish Times. 8 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012.
- "Irish fans sing The Fields of Athenry, Spain v Ireland Euro 2012: VIDEO". IrishCentral.com. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- "Irske tabere blev hyldet af 20.000 mand stort kor". Politiken.dk (in Danish). 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
- "Irish fans show world a winning spirit". ottawacitizen.com. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- "Low Lie The Fields of Tremendous Support by Irish Football Fans". Jakarta Globe. 16 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- "Los campos de Athenry". diariodemallorca.es. 17 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- "Aus für die "besten Fans der Welt" – sport.ORF.at". sport.ORF.at. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- "Ireland fans shake the nations of Europe with allegiance". admcsport.com. 16 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- "We had dreams and songs to sing". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- "Our fans are the best in the world". 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- "Fans singing in unison for the Irish". www.hinews.cn. 16 June 2012. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- Dreis, Achim (15 June 2012). "The Fields of Athenry: Der Stolz der Unterlegenen". Faz.net (in German). Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- "Z cyklu: przeżyjmy to jeszcze raz. Niesamowita pieśń fanów Irlandii". Ciacha.net (in Polish). 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012.
- "Neck (2) – Here's Mud In Yer Eye!". Discogs. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016.
- "Neck discography". RateYourMusic.
- "Dropkick Murphys discography – The Fields of Athenry, Farrar version". Archived from the original on 27 August 2012.
- "Review of Blaggards' "Standards"". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- Chambers, Pete (9 August 2012). "Backbeat: Bob Brolly's new CD". Coventry Telegraph. Trinity Mirror. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- "Original versions of Esgair Llyn written by Dafydd Iwan | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- "Gaelic Song : Iain MacIver : Fields of Athenry". YouTube.
- "Hymn : Rachael Doey : Outside the City Wall". YouTube.
- "The Fields Of Athenry (Irish Folk Ballad)". YouTube.
- "Dead Poets Society". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
External links
- Pete St John
- The Fields of Athenry at IMDb Movie appearances
Irish rebel songs | |
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Gaelic Ireland | |
United Irishmen | |
Famine & Young Ireland | |
1916 & War of Independence |
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The Troubles | |
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See also |
- Athenry
- Australian folk songs
- Botany Bay
- Celtic F.C. songs
- Dropkick Murphys songs
- Association football songs and chants
- Munster Rugby
- Ireland national rugby union team songs
- Irish-Australian culture
- Irish folk songs
- Irish songs
- Republic of Ireland national football team songs
- Songs about Australia
- Songs about towns
- Songs about Ireland
- Songs written by Pete St. John
- Works about the Great Famine (Ireland)