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The Fields of Athenry
By Pete St. John - This one is just plain pretty, though sad. I have heard AmberHawke perform this. It is from the era when "criminals" were sent to another country like Australia...C F C G
By the lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling,
C F G G7
“Michael, they are taking you away,
C F
For you stole Trevelyn’s corn Trevelyn's = Trevellen's
C G
So the young might see the morn,
G7 C
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.”Chorus:
C F C Am
Low lie the fields of Athenry
C G G7
Where once we watched the small free birds fly.
C F
Our love was on the wing,
C G
We had dreams and songs to sing,
G7 C
It’s so lonely round the fields of Athenry.C F C G
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man calling,
C F G G7
“Nothing matters, Mary, when you’re free.
C F
Against famine and the Crown,
C G
I rebelled. They ran me down.
G7 C
Now you must raise our child with dignity. ChorusC F C G
By a lonely harbour wall, she watched the last star falling,
C F G G7
And that prison ship sailed out against the sky.
C F
Sure she’ll wait and hope and pray
C G
For her love in Botany Bay
G7 C
It’s so lonely round the fields of Athenry.
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