Thank You for Hearing Me: The Definitive Sinéad O'Connor Discography

“Paddy's Lament”

Traditional, arranged by Sinéad O'Connor/Dónal Lunny/Alan Branch/Sharon Shannon/A. Maxwell/B. Alexander/Professor Stretch

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

4 versions

5:28

Paddy's Lament” promo single
Sean-Nós Nua album
Sean-Nós Nua promo sampler

5:37

live at Vicar Street, Dublin

She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty album

4:27

documentary

5:43 live March 15th, 2003

Nuit Celtique II live DVD

Lyrics

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

Well, it's by the hush, me boys,
And that's to mind your noise,
And listen to poor Paddy's sad narration.
I was by hunger stressed, and in poverty distressed,
So I took a thought I'd leave the Irish nation.
Well, I sold me horse and cow, my little pigs and sow.
My father's farm of land I then departed.
And me sweetheart, Bid Magee, I'm afraid I'll never see,
For I left her there that morning broken-hearted.
Here Hear ye boys, now take my advice,
To America I'll have youse not be coming.
There is nothing here but war,
Where the murdering cannons roar,
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin.
Well, meself and a hundred more to America said o'er,
Our fortunes to be making we were thinking.
When we got to Yankee land, they put guns into our hand,
Saying, "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln."
Here Hear ye boys ... , now take my advice,
To America I'll have youse not be coming.
There is nothing here but war,
Where the murdering cannons roar,
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin.
General Meagher, to us he said, "If you get shot or lose your head,
Every mothers' mother's son of youse will get a pension."
Well, in the war I lost me leg; all I've now's a wooden peg.
By my soul, it is the truth to you I mention.
Here Hear ye boys ... , now take my advice,
To America I'll have youse not be coming.
There is nothing here but war,
Where the murdering cannons roar,
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin.
Well, I think meself in luck, if I get fed on Indian buck,
And old Ireland is the country I delight in.
To the devil, I would say, "God curse Americay,"
For in truth, I've had enough of their hard fighting.
Here Hear ye boys ... , now take my advice,
To America I'll have youse not be coming.
There is nothing here but war,
Where the murdering cannons roar,
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin.

Notes

Liner notes

This song tells the story of an Irish immigrant to the US in the 19th century. In flight from hunger, he finds himself conscripted under General Lincoln in the American Civil War. General Thomas Francis Meagher, from Waterford, was organiser and commander of the Irish Brigade in the Union Army. I first heard the song twelve years ago when I was living in Los Angeles during the Gulf War. The incredible Mary Black was the singer. It was sung so beautifully that needless to say it struck a large chord. It is the best anti-war song ever made, in my humble opinion. The ghost of the man speaking through the song is so present that I feel I could reach out and touch him and he'd be flesh and bone. I can see him so clearly in my mind. It's a tricky song to sing because it requires the singer to become the ghost. You have to believe in ghosts to be open to singing it. Then he jumps right in and off he goes, little old guy with a very big message.

Sinéad O'Connor (Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

Musicians

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

Sinéad O'Connor vocals
Abdullah Chhadeh quanun
Nick Coplowe Hammond
Pete Lockett percussion
Cora Venus Lunny violin
Dónal Lunny acoustic guitar , bouzouki , keyboard , bodhrán , bodhrán bass
Skip McDonald electric guitar
Rob Ó Géibheannaigh flute , strings
Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie drums , bass , piano
Bernard O'Neill acoustic bass
Professor Stretch drum programming , bass programming
Sharon Shannon accordion
Steve Wickham mandolin , banjo

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