Added: 3 years ago
From: vlikavec
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  • Liam could get tears from a stone.

  • First place I heard this- School assembly.

  • What a singer -he was the world's greatest interpreter of how to sing a ballad or a rebel song.

  • Liam had a voice like honey, the only other singer that equalled him is Luke, both were absolutely incomparable

  • @patsyod I absolutely agree.

  • Quality song

  • Comment removed

  • Simply put, Liam Clancy sang some the most beautiful songs ever written, and did so magnificently!

  • To all the victims of 9/11 and the soldiers that continue to die.

  • @jmanbloom Do those victims include the untold number of Iraqis and Afghans and Pakistanis and Somalis?

    You know this is an anti war song-maybe the greatest ever done?

  • Liam sings from his irish soul, and if you don't get it, you ain't Irish

  • Simply brilliant! Best ever Ballad singer to come out of Ireland! RIP

  • after watching this and "The band played Waltzing Matilda", I have to listen to "All God's Creatures Have a Place in the Choir" to bring my spirits back up.

  • I'm a Canadian Soldier and even though this song refers to WWI. Till this day it still has meaning for all us Canadian Soldiers who are currently serve today. It reminds us of those who served before us and of those who are currently serving in theater.

  • @tombs009 I think it's safe to say that an troop who's half an education this song means something...french german, italian, british, scots, irish, turkish etc...

  • Eric Bogle wrote both of the anti-war songs being referred to, and were both about WWI. "No Man's Land" (Bogle's title) was recorded by others who changed the name to "Willie McBride" and "Greenfields of France." It was inspired by the huge military cemeteries in France. "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" has also been recorded by many other artists, and was about the "Battle of Souvla Bay" which was a massacre of the Aussies. Liam Clancy's versions are the best of both songs.

  • I went to those fields, don't want to do it again. Beutiful song and singer.

  • @dustysailor1 I've been to them a few times. It brings a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye everytime. All those white crosses make it the saddest place I've ever visited.

  • Brillant great poet of our time, check my Makem songs out, cheers Ther Makem Folk Singer

  • Fair enough, but the actual song you are referring to was The Green Fields Of Framce or Willie Mac Bride as the Fureys and others call it, at a concert he explained prior to the song. I could be wrong but he was inspired by the yearly march of the Oz soldiers on ANZAC Day in every Oz city which was established at the end of WW1after the Gallipoli campaign in particular and the dwindling numbers each year.

  • @golly22001 The song is actualy called "No Man's Land" (both Willie McBride and Green Fields Of France are alternative titles for the song which other people have adopted for it). It was inspired by Bogle's visit to war cemetries in northern France. The song which was inspired by the Anzac Day march etc was his "And The Band Played Waltzin Matilda"

  • Written by Eric Bogle, an Aussie (though originally from Scotland) about Aussie war experience, as he wrote The Band Played Waltzing matilda.. and The Cocky farmer, great Oz songwriter.

  • @golly22001 The song isn't written about Aussie war experience. Bogle wrote this song shortly after moving to Oz but he wrote it in Europe shortly after visiting one of the many military war graves there. It was about WWI in general. Waltzin Matilda was specifically about Aussie experience but this isn't

  • I haven't heard this in years, even though I was lucky enough to be introduced to the The Clancy Brothers good and early. Great band, easy to listen to because they sounded so good. Never cheesy - Irish pop-trad (or any pop-trad, for that matter) so often strays beyond the bounds of good taste. Liam's voice is extraordinary - so much soul without ever needing to break into a sweat.

  • liam sings this differently

  • I don't understand how some people mock this amazing man. Something tells me they're just jelous...

  • I once fell into a discussion about war with my grandmother. One of Nanny's brothers had been gassed in France in WWI & died soon after coming home to Newfoundland. Her face lit up when she told me how her big brother would cajole & persuade their strict Dad--my great granddad, into letting Nanny go "to the dances." He would chaperone so she could go. She just adored him for it. Then my Nanny was in tears. She still pined for him after 50 years. This song always reminds me of Nanny that day.

  • @mightymissk

    Really beautifully told. Thank you for sharing that.

  • @marklethbridge55 Thanks. You made my day.

  • what a voice. i grew up listening to the clancy brothers. great singers.

  • My great Uncle John Feyma died in France in WWI but he is not buried there. They brought his body back and he's buried in his hometown Sandstone, Minnesota, USA.

    ~OneKewpie~

  • god rest him

  • 'The countless white crosses in mute witness they stand."

    That line never ceases to give me chills.

  • I think that if angels can sing, they must sound like Liam Clancy.

  • @hanshotfirst1138 why would they sing, if they could stand with us and listen to the Clancys?? (and don't forget Tommy Makem)

  • @gwcstudio Who can forget Tommy Makem?

  • @hanshotfirst1138 of course if their was more than one the other would probably sound like Tommy Makem

  • @hanshotfirst1138 He's probably giving them lessons now! That's why God called him.

  • to those arguing about the meaning behind this song, is not the beauty in music such as this, not merely the meaning the writer/performer holds, but also the meaning each of us as individuals take from the song. as the man I am, this song brings to me all those who have died in battle for whatever cause, if gives me faith in Humanity from reminding me that people are willing to die for a cause they feel is just, people with honour and courage, For others your meaning differs.

  • did they dead?

  • Liam had the ability to tear us from this world of comfort and make the past so real. He sang as though he cared.

  • RIP, Liam.

  • Liam Clancy.. legendary irish man, pride of tipperary

  • liam may you rest in peace , brothers and tommy thank you for the music for us who live abroad thanks a million. Have you no homes to go to which I heard in Castlebar Co Mayo many years ago Bridget Scott Scotland.

  • The total number of casualties in World War I, both military and civilian, was about 37 million: 16 million deaths and 21 million wounded. The total number of deaths includes 9.7 million military personnel and about 6.8 million civilians.

  • He is so good that you tend not to notice, I didn't notice until he was gone, never forgotten.

  • This song was played at my school in assembly.

  • First heard the Brothers & Tommy Makem in 1963 at St. Joe's College in Rensselaer Indiana and never missed their Chicago appearances. They will all be missed at least by me

  • On of the best songs ever made

  • It takes a much stronger man than I to sing this aloud, let alone be able to do it in front of a crowd. :(

  • And yes Bob Dylan him nd liam were friends, and weird enough only last week I was at a session in liams first house, lovely small cottage near a cliff edge in waterford, we had the guitars out nd played away into the early morning.. walking home watching the sun rise, was 1 of the better nights out .....

  • liam, pure legend

  • @videokid450 says it all

  • did you really beleive this war would end wars?

  • a beautiful song about the futility of war r.i.p. all our brave soldiers from all sides (all someones sons or fathers)

  • who is dylan?

  • Beautiful!  This song moves me. Liam sings it as only he can

  • Comment removed

  • The futility of war is only surpassed by the futility or human reasoning to avoid it.......again, again, again.......again.......and again..there is nothing glorious about death; not even its purpose.....

  • The killing and the dying was all done in vain, for Willie McBride it's all happened again...... and again, and again, and again, and again........ and it is still happening. When will they ever learn, when will they ever, ever learn?

  • Liam Clancy, Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

  • flippin deadly

  • Love it, so good!!

  • majic

  • I think this is the greatest tribute ever written to Our fallen Brethern.

    Thanks again Liam, rest in peace Brother.

  • Dylan once said Liam was the best ballad singer ever.

    This means that Liam was the best ballad singer ever.

  • @orphangun Dylan as in Bob Dylan?

  • @orphangun If he's good enough for Dylan, he's more than good enough for me.

  • @orphangun I'm darned if you're not right. Liam is.

  • @orphangun Forgive me, but Liam Clancy needs none of Dylan's egotistical asshattery. Liam was a hundred times the man Dylan could dream of being.

  • @pedonbio I agree.....Dylan was simply adequate.  Liam has heart.

  • @orphangun Dylan at least got that right...

  • @orphangun luke kelly is just as good

  • @orphangun ... a strong and perhaps justified claim but do keep in mind that Dylan was at the time- consuming 2 kilos of hash a day.

  • Super ! Übrigens gibt es von Hannes Wader eine deutsche Version : Es ist an der Zeit aus dem Album "Blick zurück" (1992)

    THX for Sharing

  • This is very good, but I've got to give Best Version honors to the Corries. Browne's voice is deeper and stronger than Clancy's. No offense intended here--just a personal opinion.

  • @endora60 , yeah fair comment about the Corries version , although im a big fan of Liams music i just feel The Fureys version is worth a mention for a contender for the top of the honours list

  • @howdofolks Have a listen to the Composers version and his opinion of the best version. Anyone who sing this ( to my knowledge) sings it with the emtion it deserves. According to Dylan this guy is good. How can I disagree?

    Have a listen to "And The Band Sang Waltzing Matilda" and "Only 19"

  • @hibraisil . . The version we always hear is 1916,, so i can only imagine that it refers to the Easter Rising of 1916.. Of course it refers directly to the war in France,.. But at the same moment, Ireland rose against Englang, so perhaps the death of the Irish soliders in France was a waste, wheras in Ireland it served a purpose? Are the deaths of Irish in WWI recognised? Whereas they are in Ireland? 'They they beat the drums slowly?' It seems like a comparison is being made.. Just a thought

  • @MrVoodoochild13

    this song has nothing to do with the Easter Rising,it is a song written by a Scot about a Scot ..

  • The countless white crosses in mute witness stand to mans blind indifference to his fellow man.

    So true.. so sad.

  • good song wonder how long till ww3

  • Quite excellent.

  • Best Irish Singer EVER!!!

  • nobody could sing a song like him

  • @andrewcon863

    I think Luke Kelly takes the honour of the greatest Irish singer ever.

  • @nerdkiller75 - youtube.com/watch?v=6EwaNYzVdF­s

  • @nerdkiller75  Have to kindly disagree.. Paddy reillys the one for me

  • @yiddos1971

    Everyone has their own favourite. Paddy was fantastic though. Great story teller.

  • tonight i cryed..... i so miss home thank you Liam. Michael Bangkok....

  • Why is he using 1915 instead of 1916? It's obviously not an accent so what's the relevance of it?

  • @Stoopchow if you listen to outhers songs most will change a few things within the song, its the folk process

  • 1915 was the original year the song had. 1916 was created when the Irish got a hold of it in remembrance of the Fenian Rising of 1916.

  • @Stoopchow ww1 was on in 1915. Anyone's guess as to which battle it refers to..maybe Suvla.

  • @hibraisil Eric Bogle ( the writer ) was referring to the Battle of the Somme, hibraisil.  His original version stated 1916 instead of 1915.

  • ah. Well now I know. I still think Liam's version is the best I've heard. I can't listen to it without choking up.

  • thank you,,,

  • ain't war a bitch baby !!

  • i listened to it 10 times in a row! great

  • i love thios song becouse it may be my reletive, but that means nothing to the brave souls who laid down for us, if i could give anything back i would, im stuck just with memoreies and highlights of your brave times, god bless yer, thank you .

  • my favorite version of this song

  • I had no idea he had died until today. I will miss him as I would a good friend. Godspeed, Liam.

  • is it just me or was not enough of a deal made of his death?? I didn't hear for ages either. a national treasure.

  • R.I.P. Liam.

  • Just realize that the lyrics of this song would go perfectly sung to the tune of Clancy's "Patriot Game"

  • This song is about a fella who fought with england in WW1, the patriot game is a republican ballad in honer of an IRA man fighting the english

  • @1919dom The song isn't nothing to do with Ireland, the name Willie Mcbride was used for no other reason than rhyming with grave side, as said by the author Eric Bogle.

  • @Tlax13 Surely you mean Dominic Behan's "Patriot Game"?

  • R.I.P fallin hero

  • This wonderful song was sung at Liam's graveside after a rainbow appeared.

  • REST IN PEACE LIAM

  • Thanks Liam for all the great songs, and being a influence to so many. RIP

  • Goodbye my old friend,i,ll see ya soon.from an old fart of an

    Ulsterman,

    SLAINTE

  • thanks, vlikavec for this, like how you introduced it , he was a master, been an fan for so damn long, RIP, you really made a difference in music, Liam

  • RIP Liam

  • cronaím thú

  • There'll be one hell of a reunion up in heaven.RIP Liam Clancy.

  • RIP Liam

  • God Blee Liam - Rest in Peace and thank you for 48 years entertainment

  • May the sun always shine and the wind be always at your back Liam.

  • A true Irish legend...one that will never be forgotten..many thanks for leaving so many wonderful renditions

  • all the best liamo. take care me auld flower. talk soon.

  • your a sad person , after all of your people died and sacfried thier lives for you still talk shit in the nagative bigotted bullshit when the of your people have embraced peace and eqaulity omang all. cop on you asshloe this is the 21st Century

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  • I think that you are a misserable person who gets enjoyment out of talking horribly about some who has passed away. He was a true irish legend who truly revived great irish music. Why did you bother looking at this video if this is how you feel. Cop on and have some respect. Typical english person. Dont forget you invaded Ireland, India, Africa, American etc so keep your mouth shut and have a bit of respect for Liam.

    Liam hated conflict, racism and discrimination anyway so what do you know?

  • R.I.P Liam Clancy ..Music Legend xxx

  • Good night, Liam. Sleep well.

    anto o'r

  • R.I.P Liam

  • R.I.P. The Man who brought Irish folk music to the world.

    MEN IN SWEATERS FOREVER

  • And so say all of us

  • Liam, Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam, God bless you man....RIP.

  • Rest in Peace Liam Clancey, great song

  • love it!

  • Sorry, much as I love Liam, Finbar Furey sings this one with a great sense of feeling

  • Just realized what else this song reminds me of...1960's war protest songs. (There're also war protest songs that are from really long ago...much longer ago than the 1960's or even than 1916...like "Ye Jacobites By Name", by Robert Burns.)

    "Our family's been here since the revolution!"

    "Dad, our family came to America in 1916!"

    "That's what I mean, the IRISH revolution!"

    ------------ The Dick Van Dyke Show (American television, 1960's)

    =^__^=

  • This version mentions 1916 (year of the Easter rebellion/rising), so it's much newer than the original ballad or ballads that used a similar chorus. (Actually, I'm pretty sure that even the American cowboy song "The Streets of Laredo" is older than 1916. ^_~) From the lyrics, this is apparently a 20th century song based on much older songs which had similar words.

  • Hmmm. Obviously, based on the same Scottish ballad(s) that "The Streets of Laredo" is based on.

    ("Then beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly,

    And play the dead march as they carry me along.

    Take me to the green valley and lay the sod o'er me,

    For I'm a poor cowboy and I know I've done wrong."

    ---------- "The Streets of Laredo")

    (And no, "Flowers of the Forest" isn't [usually] this tune. He does mention "Flowers of the Forest" in the chorus of this, though.)

  • Seems that every version of "Green Fields of France" is slightly different .. but each one is beautiful ; )

  • Same tune as Flowers of the Forest, The Bold Fenian men, and The dying Cowboy, and others no doubt.

  • dropkick murphys do a great version of this song!!!!!

  • na its def called green fields of france

  • where can i download this song?

  • No Man's Land by Eric Bogle

  • fail with the lyrics matching the video

  • This song never fails to bring tears to my eyes

  • This is a good version but The Corries' version is better and more gentle.

  • im sorry to say but there is no better than the clancy brothers

  • great song cant help pulling out my tin whistle and playing along come on connaught galway and ireland

  • at least get the words right crap song coming from your mouth!!!!!

  • It's called interpetation and performance. The words being argued here are trivial at best.

  • Legend.

  • The Murphy's are great to have pints to. Liam, OTOH, is considered among the very greatest balladeers ever to have lived. Even Dylan called Liam the best he had ever heard. The Murphys are fun - Liam is an icon - just ask anyone over 30 who grew up in the NY - Ireland scene.

  • The sone of the man who compsedand performed this song died around 12 Hours before he was going to perform this song for the 1st time. He did perform this song live to memorate the death of his sone.

  • Are you talking about Eric Bogle who wrote this song??

  • Where did you get this information? Bogle wrote the song after visiting the war cemeteries in Northern France.

  • Eric Bogle wrote this song with the title of 'No Man's Land'. There are two versions of him singing it on youtube, check it out. Eric also wrote The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.

  • The lyric of this song, much like There Were Roses, The Town I Loved So Well, And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda, The Good Reuben James and Boulavogue all take the tragedy of war, explain that those who choose war don't die and pose the question as to whether we will ever learn.

  • Great version But Please correct the lyrics and at the very least ther chorous!

  • Unlike Finbar Furey (who I think is mostly to blame for all the wrongly worded versions of this song) Liam actually got almost all the words correct - ESPECIALLY the chorus!

    Only wrong words I spotted were "dead heroes' in verse 1, which should be 'glorious fallen' & 'glass frame' in verse 2, which should be "glass pane'.

    The title of course, as posted here is also wrong! The song as written and sung by Eric bogle, is called 'No Man's Land'.

    Listen to the original sometime.

  • He also says 'did they fire the rifles o'er you as they lowered you down" where it supposed to be "did they sound the death march as they lowered you down"... tho I like This version wayyy more than any other i've heard.

  • should also be.

    but here in this graveyard it's still No Man's land,

    the countless white crosses in mute witness stand, to mans blind indifference to his fellow man ...etc.

    This has more meaning and is as writen by Eric Bogle. composer

  • isnt this song called the flowers of the forest?

  • No Man's Land

  • No, that's a Scottish pipe tune.

  • This title is incorrect...The Song is called Willie MxBride....but either way it is a beautiful version of the song sung by Liam Clancy...Thamk you for sharing your copy of it with me...

  • Actually the song's CORRECT name as written by Eric Bogle.

  • With all the loss of young life and smashed dreams of WW1 you think that some lessons would have been learned

    Great song beautifully sung

  • Englishman, Frenchman, American, German, Russian, Austrailan, Kiwi and Canuk.. We are brothers, the same hopes the same fears the same blood wet with tears. It's not each other we should hate but the leaders in our goverments who create our fate, It is them who have crippled or killed us and it is them we should fear the most.

  • Couple this song with Liam's (and many others) version of "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda". We haven't stopped war, but these songs are incredibly vivid reminders of the cost. Will we ever learn?

  • Hey all, i'm german

    i want to know sth. important for me

    ok: do you find it bad, oder terrible oder sth. like that if we germans thank all the brave men who fought for germany in history?

    can you understand or not??

    thank you all

  • I, for one, can't hold it against you for loving your own country. Hailing from America myself, I hope to at least partially dispel the 'dumb American' stereotype to you. Back to the subject, Germany can thank their fallen all they want and I won't find it particularly nasty or terrible. In WWII in particular, one has to remember that many of the men who died were swept up in the dreams of a madman; I wish well the spirits of such men, just as I would any.