“Troy”

Composed by Sinéad O'Connor

5 versions

6:30

“Troy” single

The Lion and the Cobra album

Introducing Sinéad O'Connor promo sampler

“Drink Before the War” promo single

I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got album

So Far...The Best of Sinéad O'Connor compilation album

The Music of Sinéad O'Connor promo album

Essential compilation album

Essential compilation album

Alle 30 Goed compilation album

Trente Hits Incontournables compilation album

All the Best compilation album

6:40/7:09 live in London

“Three Babies” single

Year of the Horse live video

The Value of Ignorance / The Year of the Horse live DVD reissue

I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (limited edition) album

6:21 1988/06/03 live at The Dominion Theatre, London, UK

The Value of Ignorance live video

The Value of Ignorance / The Year of the Horse live DVD reissue

0:30 sound settings

sound settings

The Value of Ignorance / The Year of the Horse live DVD reissue

? live in Rotterdam '90

“Live in Rotterdam '90” live EP

Lyrics

(Source: as heard)

	I remember it--
	Dublin in a rainstorm, ah.
	Sitting in the long grass in the summer,
	Keeping warm.
	I remember it--
	Every restless night.
	We were so young then
	We thought that everything
	That we could possibly do was right.
	And we moved,
	Stolen from our very eyes.
	And I wondered where you went to.
	And tell me, when did the light die?
	You will rise,
	You'll return, ah, ah.
	The phoenix from the flame.
	You will learn,
	You will rise,
	You'll return,
	Being what you are.
	There is no other Troy for you to burn, ah.

	I never meant to hurt you,
	I swear I didn't mean those things I said.
	I never meant to do that to you;
	Next time, I'll keep my hands to myself instead.
	Oh, does she love you?
	What do you want to do?
	Does she need you like I do, oh?
	Do you love her?
	Is she good for you?
	Does she hold you like I do, whoah, aah, ooh, oh-oh?
	Do you want me?
	Should I leave?
	I know you're always telling me that you love me,
	But just sometimes I wonder if I should believe.
	Oh, I love you.
	God, I love you.
	I'd kill a dragon for you,
	I'll die.
	But I will rise,
	And I will return
	The phoenix from the flame.
	I have learned,
	I will rise.
	And you'll see me return,
	Being what I am.
	There is no other Troy for me to burn, ah.

	Well, you should have left the light on,
	You should have left the light on,
	Then I wouldn't have tried, and you'd never have known.
	Well, I wouldn't have pulled you tighter,
	No, I wouldn't have pulled you close,
	I wouldn't have screamed, "No! I can't let you go"
	If the door wasn't closed.
	No, I wouldn't have pulled you to me,
	No, I wouldn't have kissed your face.
	You wouldn't have begged me to hold you
	If we hadn't been there in the first place.
	Whoa, but I know you wanted me to be there, oh, ho,
	Every look that you threw told me so.
	Oh, but you should have left the light on.
	You should have left the light on.
	Ah, oh-ooh, oh,
	Ah, oh-ooh, oh,
	But the flame burned away, but you're still spitting fire,
	Made no difference what you say,
	You're still a liar,
	You're still a liar,
	You're still a liar.

Notes

According to BBC DJ Stuart Bailie, who interviewed Sinéad early in her career, "Troy" borrows from W.B. Yeats's "No Second Troy" to reflect her feelings about the abuse she suffered from her recently-deceased mother.

(Source: Stuart Bailie)

W.B. Yeats, "No Second Troy"
Why should I blame her that she filled my days
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
Or hurled the little streets upon the great,
Had they but courage equal to desire?
What could have made her peaceful with a mind
That nobleness made simple as a fire,
With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind
That is not natural in an age like this,
Being high and solitary and most stern?
Why, what could she have done being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn?

(Source: Bartleby.com)

Quotes

Stuart Bailie

Thus, I came to understand that 'Troy' was about her mother's mental problems, her divorce from Sinead's father and the intense atmosphere at home. This was compounded by her mum's tragic death. From this fierce material, Sinead created one of her most potent creations.

She was also referencing a WB Yeats poem, 'No Second Troy'. That particular work found William Butler coming to terms with the grace and the revolutionary import of Maude Gonne, who just wouldn't requite the love. The poem is full of emotional static, and the line about "beauty like a tightened bow" is enough to secure her immortality. Sinead was borrowing from the greatest source.

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