Fields of Athenry
Echoes of Rebellion: Love and Loss in Athenry
Lyrics
By a lonely prison wall
Refers to a location near a prison wall
I heard a young girl calling
A young girl is calling out
Michael they are taking you away
Addressing someone named Michael being taken away
For you stole Trevelyan's corn
Michael stole corn that belonged to Trevelyan
So the young might see the morn
Michael stole for the benefit of the younger generation to survive
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay
A ship to transport prisoners is waiting in the bay
Low lie the Fields of Athenry
Describes the low-lying Fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Recollection of watching birds freely fly in Athenry
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
Reflects on a past filled with love, dreams, and songs
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry
Emphasizes the loneliness felt in the Fields of Athenry now
By a lonely prison wall
Returning to the lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
Hearing a young man's voice
Nothing matters Mary when your free
Expressing that nothing matters when Mary is free
Against the Famine and the Crown
Rebelling against the Famine and the Crown (authority)
I rebelled they ran me down
Being pursued and captured for the rebellion
Now you must raise our child with dignity
Asking Mary to raise their child with dignity in his absence
Low lie the Fields of Athenry
Describes the low-lying Fields of Athenry again
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Recalling the freedom of watching birds in Athenry
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
Remembering past love, dreams, and songs
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry
Emphasizing the current loneliness in the Fields of Athenry
By a lonely harbor wall
Shifting to a lonely harbor wall
She watched the last star falling
A woman observing the last star falling
And that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Visualizing a prison ship sailing into the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray
She'll wait, hope, and pray for her love in Botany Bay (a penal colony)
For her love in Botany Bay
Expressing the loneliness felt in the Fields of Athenry
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry
Reiteration of the loneliness around Athenry
Low lie the Fields of Athenry
Describes the low-lying Fields of Athenry again
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Recollection of the freedom watching birds in Athenry
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
Reflecting on past love, dreams, and songs
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry
Emphasizing the loneliness experienced in the Fields of Athenry
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry
Reiterating the loneliness in the Fields of Athenry
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