Thank You for Hearing Me: “Paddy's Lament”

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

4 versions

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

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

Alphabetically

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Next song: “The Parting Glass”

All artwork, lyrics, and liner notes are copyrighted by their respective owners. Every effort is made to properly attribute copyrighted content, when known. Everything else © copyright Jason R Tibbetts 2007-2023. All rights reserved.

Questions, comments, or corrections? Email me at jason@tibbetts.net.

“Paddy's Lament”