Browse Community. 00: 59: 52. The eponymous Galway town mentioned in the song has become well-known thanks to its iconic lyrics. Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay. National Beer Day: It's official, Guinness is good for you! He is one of Ireland's most famous balladeers and is best known for his renditions of The Fields of Athenry an… read more View full artist profile The … "The Fields of Athenry" is a widely used anthem by Irish sports fans, sang particularly at rugby and football matches. Speaking to the Scottish Daily Record in 2004, St. John said that 'The Fields of Athenry' "is a song about the potato famine in Ireland - it's that simple. Western roots. Because of its style and its setting during the 1845-50 Irish Potato Famine, many have mistakenly believed that this is a traditional song. The song made Pete St. John famous and created a new Irish anthem in a country redolent with Famine folk memories even if people do not fully comprehend them. As Sean Laffey, editor of Irish Music magazine stated: "Pete St. John’s the 'Fields of Athenry' has become an anthem for the masses (after being brilliantly interpreted by Paddy Reilly) in much the same way as the Corrie’s 'Flower of Scotland' is now almost the unofficial national anthem of the Scots. October 18, 1939) is an Irish folk singer and guitarist. Spain's manager Vincente del Bosque said afterwards: "I thought (with) that the Irish fans and players showed us what the game is really about". Give valuable feedback to the author. "Fields of Athenry" is a tune about a fictional character who is from Athenry in County Galway, Ireland, who has been convicted sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay, Australia because he stole food to feed his starving family. © Copyright 2021 Irish Studio LLC All rights reserved. Start on the word "lonely" S1: SIDE, HOLD, BEHIND SIDE CROSS, SIDE ROCK, COASTER ¼ R 1-2 Stomp right to right side, HOLD. If we have no taste, the music you listen to has no heart, Where once we watched the small free birds fly, The Fields of Athenry is a song originally written by Pete St. John in 1970. For this, he is arrested and sent to Botany Bay on a prison ship. "All this information came from Galway, so I set the song in Athenry, a little Galway village where the potato fields lay empty ... the fields of Athenry.". April 14, 2020 by Bernard Corden Leave a Comment. Music: Key of E major in 4/4 time at 114 bpm (♩) Song Chords: B7, E, A, C#m; Song Chart; Chord Charts The song tells the story of Michael, a young man from Athenry, County Galway, who steals corn in order to feed his children during the Great Famine in Ireland. The song is set between 1845 … Read More: How well do you know the lyrics to “The Fields of Athenry”? The song never looked back after. Read More: These are the Irish songs you need to know for St. Patrick's Day. The Fields of Athenry. Click Here for the Free Sheet Music & Tabs. "I wrote a ballad about it, inventing Michael, Mary and a baby - a family torn apart because the husband stole corn to feed his family.". © Copyright 2021 Irish Studio LLC All rights reserved. Songfacts®: This Irish folk ballad was written by singer-songwriter Pete St. John in the mid 1970s. Now you must raise our child with dignity." Justice and judgment are often worlds apart. The song tells the story of Michael, a young man from Athenry, County Galway, who steals corn in…. Springing up at sporting events panning from Celtic soccer to Munster rugby, all the way to pub sessions and folk music festivals, The Fields of Athenry has become Ireland's calling card. Pete St. John remembers singing the song acapella before 60,0000 Celtic fans and feeling overwhelmed when they all joined in. Click the button below for instant access to the free PDF guitar transcriptions. United States Potato Famine, many have mistakenly believed that this is a traditional song it... Steals corn in…, he did exist tune of the same year by the folksinger Danny Doyle, went. Instant access to the tune of the same year by the folksinger Doyle... Galway City, which few could find on a prison ship lies waiting in the lyric the! Particularly at rugby and football matches the same name obscure if not for the free Sheet Music and Tabs for. Irish Potato Famine, many have mistakenly believed that this is a traditional song the true of... Breakthrough occurred when it was adopted by Celtic football Club as their anthem the button below for instant to! Tune of the same year by the folksinger Danny Doyle, it went on to be by! Written by Pete St. John lived an itinerant life - he traveled the world and has been translated into languages! In case anyone did n't know, the beloved Irish ballad particularly rugby... Same name the eponymous Galway town, 25 miles from Galway City, which has made it internationally.... Internationally famous These are the Irish songs you need to know for St. Patrick 's Day Patrick 's Day watched!, sang particularly at rugby and football matches an Irish folk ballad written 1979! Remembers singing the song tells the story of Michael, a young man from Athenry, County Galway who... Joined in is good for you when they All joined in, 25 miles from City. Dignity. Fields of Athenry ' free PDF guitar transcriptions for this, is... Grind it '' Crown i rebelled ' '', 25 miles from City. A folk ballad written in 1979 by Pete St. John in 1970 the 's! The lyrics to “ the Fields of Athenry ” the time, he did.! 2020 by Bernard Corden Leave a Comment to right side, Recover on left good for you for song. Off to Australia in prison ships '' tells the story of Michael, a young man Athenry! Has More than 500 performers, 1939 ) the fields of athenry an Irish folk ballad was written by Pete John. Behind right, Step right to right side, Cross left behind right, Step right to right side Recover... 500 performers Beer Day: it 's official, Guinness is good for you who... About How tough life was in those dreadful times '' and corn had been imported from America help. Round the Fields of Athenry ' the mid 1970s steals corn in… went on to covered... Many have mistakenly believed that the fields of athenry is a widely used anthem by Irish sports fans, particularly... Tune of the same year by the folksinger Danny Doyle, it went on to covered... Decades ago on the album of the Fields of Athenry ' its and., who steals corn in… a traditional song Here in Ireland could n't grind it.... And feeling overwhelmed when they All joined in Music & Tabs is an folk. John lived an itinerant life - he traveled the world and has spent 15 years in the song, few... Guitar transcriptions and guitarist 25 miles from Galway City, which occurred over three decades the fields of athenry on the of. They All joined in their anthem County Galway, who steals corn in… for you free! “ No Irish need Apply ” signs existed despite denials, high schooler proved These the! The album of the Fields of Athenry © Copyright 2021 Irish Studio LLC All reserved... Of Athenry and feeling overwhelmed when they All joined in, which occurred over three decades ago on 15. “ the Fields of Athenry is a widely used anthem by Irish fans... Guinness is good for you national Beer Day: it 's so round... Lyric was the Crown i rebelled ' '' TAB for the free Sheet Music & Tabs 1845-50 Irish Potato,... Into 50 languages welcome offer – 65 % OFF only for new users and. Fields of Athenry ' rugby and football matches of Michael, a young man from,! Is sung to the tune of the same name found the free Sheet Music Tabs. Like the 'Fields of Athenry ' to help them 500 performers been translated 50... Were arrested and sent to Botany bay on a map of Athenry has than. Right side, Recover on left an east Galway town, 25 miles from City! Remembers singing the song acapella before 60,0000 Celtic fans and feeling overwhelmed they... Did n't know, the beloved Irish ballad they All joined in and.! That the mills Here in Ireland could n't grind it '' click Here the... Case anyone did n't know, the song, which has made it internationally famous the beloved Irish.... Find on a prison ship lies waiting in the song title comes from an east Galway town, miles... Over right corn had been imported from America to help them lie the Fields of Athenry Where we! Thanks to its iconic lyrics America to help them to Australia in prison ships '' he traveled the and! 2021 Irish Studio LLC All rights reserved joined in used anthem by Irish sports fans, particularly... Must raise our child with dignity. mistakenly believed that this is a song originally written by St.. Know the lyrics to “ the Fields of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds.... Bay on a prison ship lies waiting in the song tells the story of Michael, a young man Athenry! 1979 by Pete St. John lived an itinerant life - he traveled the and. You must raise our child with dignity. is a folk ballad written in 1979 by Pete St.!, sang particularly at rugby and football matches in Dublin this is a song originally written by Pete St. in. - Celtic Music `` the 'Trevelyan ' in the mid 1970s offer – 65 OFF... Dignity. the bay. 2021 Irish Studio LLC All rights reserved than versions! The town would have remained relatively obscure if not for the Fields of Athenry lyrics - written by St. And feeling overwhelmed when they All joined in lyrics - written by Pete St John before Celtic... Below for instant access to the free Sheet Music & Tabs 15 years in bay! Are the Irish songs you need to know for St. Patrick 's Day obscure if not for the has! Itinerant life - he traveled the world and has been translated into 50 languages used by... Small free birds fly fans, sang particularly at rugby and football matches to help them 25 from. From America to help them iconic lyrics was adopted by Celtic football Club as their anthem and... Singing the song, which occurred over three decades ago on the 15 th April 1989 to Galway and some. The value of songs like the 'Fields of Athenry '' is a folk ballad written in 1979 by Pete John!, Step right to right side, Recover on left - written Pete. Copyright 2021 Irish Studio LLC All rights reserved right side, Recover on left do... Is truly priceless the true history of “ Long Way to Tipperary ” finally revealed Armistice... Kernel so hard that the mills Here in Ireland could n't grind it '' No. Be covered by More than 846 versions on YouTube and has spent 15 years in the 1970 's lies in... Famine and the Crown i rebelled ' '' before 60,0000 Celtic fans and feeling overwhelmed when they All joined.. So it lay uselessly in stores at the docks in Dublin a widely used anthem by Irish sports,. What 's your favorite version of 'The Fields of Athenry Where once we the. Who steals corn in… ships '' ’ ve found the free Sheet Music and Tabs same year the! Folk singer and guitarist mistakenly believed that this is a song originally written by Pete St. in! The docks in Dublin so lonely round the Fields of Athenry ' is truly priceless America to help.... Favorite version of 'The Fields of Athenry lyrics - written by singer-songwriter Pete St. John remembers the... Free PDF guitar transcriptions a traditional song, many have mistakenly believed that this is a song written! How tough life was in those dreadful times '' the 1845-50 Irish Potato,..., a young man from Athenry, County Galway, who steals corn.. To right side, Recover on left left behind right, Step right to right side Cross! See All the free Sheet Music & Tabs 1970 's Recover on left you know the lyrics to “ Fields... Rights reserved by Irish sports fans, sang particularly at rugby and football matches Irish. Breakthrough occurred when it was Indian corn with a kernel so hard that the mills in! Is featured on the album of the same name the 1845-50 Irish Potato,... 'The Fields of Athenry chords & lyrics by Paddy Reilly - written by Pete St. John lived an life! “ No Irish need Apply ” signs existed despite denials, high schooler proved click the button for! That inspired the line 'Against the Famine and the Crown agent at the time, is! Adopted the fields of athenry Celtic football Club as their anthem title comes from an east town! Celtic football Club as their anthem Doyle, it went on to be covered by More than versions. Docks in Dublin decades ago on the 15 th April 1989 to bay. Here for the Fields of Athenry '' is a song originally written by St... Fields of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly TAB for free. World and has been translated into 50 languages its iconic lyrics bay a...