Before the Hunger

"Before the Hunger" - a song about the great famine in Ireland in the mid-19th century written by Des Wade.
Here are Des Wade's words about his song and the lyrics:
In the middle of the 19th century catastrophic failures of the potato crop - the staple diet of the Irish peasantry - resulted in the mass starvation and emigration of a large proportion of the population of Ireland. This event has erroneously been referred to as a famine when, in fact, the island was a net exporter of food during the years of the tragedy. Consequently, many Irish people call this event The Great Hunger. This song is in the nature of a lament for a more innocent and carefree time before this Celtic holocaust. Here are the lyrics -
Before the Hunger
Were my people younger before the hunger
Were we lighter in heart and soul
Did we fly in the dance and live the romance
And have faith in the stories of old
Oh how deep was the dread with so many dead
And no heroes to heed their cries
From the cradle of the brave none would come to save them
No champions would arise
There were songs for the new day a-dawnin’
And for the twilight’s endless glow
But none for the cold, empty mornings
Of a race without any hope
Tears and kisses and the last long embraces
The pause at the bend in the road
For one more look at the beloved faces
*Croí briste faoi bhrón, faoi bhrón
What can a nation do when their destiny is doom
And their future is a holocaust
While the living must leave the misery and ruin
To wander the world hollowed by loss
Shattered pride - broken lives
The blight that scars us yet
To starve in ditches while our harvest riches
Went to other mouths instead
There were songs for babies a-bornin’
And laments for the laying to rest
But none for the wake and the mournin’
Or the taking of all that was best
Were my people younger before the hunger
Were we lighter in heart and soul
Did we fly in the dance and live the romance
And have faith in the stories of old
Translation - Brokenhearted with sorrow, with sorrow
#famine #hunger

[@deswade5182]

In the middle of the 19th century catastrophic failures of the potato crop - the staple diet of the Irish peasantry - resulted in the mass starvation and emigration of a large proportion of the population of Ireland. This event has erroneously been referred to as a famine when, in fact, the island was a net exporter of food during the years of the tragedy. Consequently, many Irish people call this event The Great Hunger. This song is in the nature of a lament for a more innocent and carefree time before this Celtic holocaust. Here are the lyrics -
Before the Hunger
Were my people younger before the hunger
Were we lighter in heart and soul
Did we fly in the dance and live the romance
And have faith in the stories of old
Oh how deep was the dread with so many dead
And no heroes to heed their cries
From the cradle of the brave none would come to save them
No champions would arise
There were songs for the new day a-dawnin’
And for the twilight’s endless glow
But none for the cold, empty mornings
Of a race without any hope
Tears and kisses and the last long embraces
The pause at the bend in the road
For one more look at the beloved faces
*Croí briste faoi bhrón, faoi bhrón
What can a nation do when their destiny is doom
And their future is a holocaust
While the living must leave the misery and ruin
To wander the world hollowed by loss
Shattered pride - broken lives
The blight that scars us yet
To starve in ditches while our harvest riches
Went to other mouths instead
There were songs for babies a-bornin’
And laments for the laying to rest
But none for the wake and the mournin’
Or the taking of all that was best
Were my people younger before the hunger
Were we lighter in heart and soul
Did we fly in the dance and live the romance
And have faith in the stories of old
Translation - Brokenhearted with sorrow, with sorrow
© - Des Wade 2018
ISRC# AU-C2C-21-00005 ISWC# T-061398873-0

[@deswade5182]

I can't thank you enough Gerd for posting this totally heartfelt rendition of my song. It means so much to me to know that someone I do not know and probably never meet thinks my work worthy of expressing and sharing. I am SO touched, it brings a tear to my eye. Thank you again!

[@gmfolk]

Oh - thank you for writing such a wonderful song and also thanks for yozr nice comment. If you want me to put your words and the lyrics in the headlines give me a short notice.

[@deswade5182]

@@gmfolk Yes, Gerd. Please do put my song and words in the headlines and thank you once again from the bottom of my heart for your interest and support. It is very important to me, and many Irish people, that the word "famine' is not used to describe what happened to us. The word is merely propaganda used to give the wrongful impression that there was no food - a blatant lie - false news - to use today's terminology - that through decades of repetition has become what many mistakenly believe to be true. Anyway, once again my thanks and appreciation to you and I look forward to hearing your songs.