Paddy'sLamentation.mov

Niamh Ní Charra (Vocal, Concertina), Tony O Flaherty (Piano), taken from Niamh's 2nd album "Súgach Sámh / Happy Out", released September 2010.


This song is set during the tragic and turbulent years of the Irish Famine, and the subsequent mass exodus to America. While in many songs of this nature the message to friends and family at home is one of hope and invitation, this song, written just a few years after the America Civil War, is a rare example of the flip side of the coin. Irish immigrants, weak and exhausted were recruited as soon as they landed, enticed by promises of food and pay for themselves, and pensions for their families should they be killed. These tactics were highly effective and a large volume of young men joined both sides. Sadly casualties were high and the pensions were rarely if ever paid.
As a footnote, the Indian Buck mentioned in the poignant last verse was a type of maize which was sent in foreign aid from America to Ireland during the famine. Tragically, the Irish had no idea how to cook it and it was often given in its raw form to the starving people, who ended up suffering agonising deaths as a result, their seriously malnourished bodies unable to digest the wheat.

Lyrics:
Well it's by the hush, me boys, be still and hear my voice
Come listen to poor Paddy's sad narration
I was by hunger pressed, and in poverty distressed
So I took a thought I'd leave the Irish nation

Well I sold my horse and plough, my little pig and sow
My barren plot of land I soon did part with,
And my sweetheart Brid McGee, I'm afraid I'll never see
For I left her there that morning broken-hearted

Chorus
Here me boys, heed now my advice
To America don't you be coming,
For there is nothing here but war,
And the thundering cannons roar
And I wish I was back home in dear old Dublin

Well myself and a hundred more, to America sailed o'er
Our fortunes to be made we were a thinking
But when we got to Yankee land, they shoved a gun into our hands
Saying "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln"

General Meagher to us he said, if you get shot or lose your head
Every mother's son of you will get a pension
Well myself I lost me leg, and all I got was a wooden peg,
And by God this is the truth to you I mention

Well I'd think myself in luck, if I were fed on Indian buck
And back home in the country I delight in
By the devil, I do say, it's curse America
For I think I've had enough of your hard fighting

• Category

  Music

[juggalohelp]

youtube needs a new like counter, defiantly 1000 + ! :D

[ceoltoir2010]

Thank you:) Glad you liked it :)

[Travis Lancaster]

I once participated in a Civil War re-enactment as a member of "The Fighting 69th." Even though it wasn't real, marching across the field that morning with the cannons booming around me was enough to officially blow my mind. It must have been crazy to be one of those dudes...much respect to tough Irish immigrants who shaped America.

[Will Winford]

Beautiful... Her voice is haunting. And what a lovely, albeit sad, and mournful tune...

[Al Stein]

How true.

[Morgan Bancroft]

ni see is bonnie looking!

[DEADrabbit0300]

Had a relative in the Irish Brigade. He fought at some of the bloodiest battles of the war with the brigade. It took some huge balls to stand in line and let the enemy fire at you. Loads of respect for all who fought in the war, North and South.

[1798UnitedIrishMen]

Your government advised us not to live on one food source? LOL now I have heard it all LOL Protect the north from who ? The native people ? Thought yous didn't want Ireland ? LOL Christianity heard of it? well if not for Ireland it would be lost gone missing what ever way you want to put it. Ireland gave Scotland and england religion

[rlee0RNGR]

you are so deluded it isnt even funny i can spell when i need to im writing quick because i have better things to do than use grammar on an irish hog the potato famine you had was your own fault our government advised you previously to not just rely on one food source ive never seen any products in our supermarkets from ireland bullshit and as for without you we would be in the dark ages haha name one thing ireland has done for the world fuck all our soldiers are there to protect the north idiot

[rlee0RNGR]

haha you chat shit the irish went to america because they were greedy thinking they could make a fortune without having to work hard for it which has always been a problem in the human race besides do you really think your kinsman would have migrated to america if they knew they were going to have to be criminals, conscripts and work horses? and besides england beat you down for hundreds of years? if we wanted ireland we could have taken it with ease now its just a stupid ongoing religious thing

[piGfuK3r]

so pretty...

watching gangs of new york for the fifty millionth time brought me here finally after years of loving the portion of the song in the film

[PapagenoJuan2]

"But when we got to Yankee land, they shoved a gun in our hands, saying Patty you must go and fight for Lincoln" I love that line, so dark and haunting:))

[Trojanponey]

"Oh ye Gaels of Ireland,

the Men whom God made mad.

For all your wars are merry,

yet all your songs are sad."