By the lonely prison wall.
I heard a young girl calling.
Michael, they are taking you away, for you
stole Trevelyn's corn. So the young might see the morn.
Now a prisonship lies waiting in the bay.
Chorus:
Low lie, the Fields of Athenry, where
once we watched the small free birds fly. Our
love was on the wing, we had dreams and songs to sing.
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.
By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling.
Nothing matters Mary when you're 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 harbour wall
She watched the last star falling.
And 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
Note: Fields of Athenry was composed by Pete St. John in 1985. The song
is popular with Irish rugby fans the world over, and can often be heard at Irish
internationals. The song has also been adopted as the anthem of the London
Irish
rugby team.