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The Fields of Athenry" is an Irish folk ballad set during the Great Irish Famine (1845–1850) about a fictional man named Michael from somewhere near Athenry in County Galway who has been sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay, Australia, for stealing food for his starving family.
Written by Pete St John in the 1970s, claims that the tune is actually much older are unfounded.
The town of Athenry lies 16 miles east of Galway city. Its name derives from the ford ('Áth') crossing the river Clarin just east of the settlement. Because three kingdoms met at that point, it was called 'Áth na Ríogh', or 'the Ford of the Kings'. On some medieval maps of English origin the town is called Kingstown.
Written by Pete St John in the 1970s, claims that the tune is actually much older are unfounded.
The town of Athenry lies 16 miles east of Galway city. Its name derives from the ford ('Áth') crossing the river Clarin just east of the settlement. Because three kingdoms met at that point, it was called 'Áth na Ríogh', or 'the Ford of the Kings'. On some medieval maps of English origin the town is called Kingstown.
Fields of Athenry, The
by Pete St. John
By a [F] lonely prison wall
I [Bb] heard a young girl [F] call- [C] ing
[F] Micheal they are [Bb] taking you a- [C] way
For you [F] stole Trevelyn's [Bb] corn
So the [F] young might see the [C] morn.
Now a [C] prison ship lies waiting in the [F] bay.
(Chorus
[F] Low [Bb] lie the [F] Fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds [C] fly.
Our [F] love was on the [Bb] wing we had [F] dreams and songs to [C] sing
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athen- [F] ry.)
By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
Nothing matter Mary when your free,
Against the Famine and the Crown
I rebelled they ran me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity.
Chorus
By a lonely harbor wall
She watched the last star falling
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.
Chorus
I [Bb] heard a young girl [F] call- [C] ing
[F] Micheal they are [Bb] taking you a- [C] way
For you [F] stole Trevelyn's [Bb] corn
So the [F] young might see the [C] morn.
Now a [C] prison ship lies waiting in the [F] bay.
(Chorus
[F] Low [Bb] lie the [F] Fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds [C] fly.
Our [F] love was on the [Bb] wing we had [F] dreams and songs to [C] sing
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athen- [F] ry.)
By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
Nothing matter Mary when your free,
Against the Famine and the Crown
I rebelled they ran me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity.
Chorus
By a lonely harbor wall
She watched the last star falling
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.
Chorus