I sang this song for a talent show at my church. When I started to rehearse, it took me seven tries till I could get the whole way through without breaking up. It's the most emotional song I know.
Love and loss--yes, that is Life. I've just heard this song for the first time on NPR. I cried because of my own losses and loneliness. Here's hoping you all have someone to encourage you, and faith to keep on. --Lori J.
Kilkelly ~ Peter Jones Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John Your good friend the schoolmaster Pat McNamara's so good As to write these words down. Your brothers have all gone to find work in England, The house is so empty and sad The crop of potatoes is sorely infected, A third to a half of them bad. And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell Are going to be married in June. Your mother says not to work on the railroad And be sure to come on home soon. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 70, dear and loving son John Hello to your Mrs and to your 4 children, May they grow healthy and strong. Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble, I guess that he never will learn. Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of And now we have nothing to burn. And Brigid is happy, you named a child for her And now she's got six of her own. You say you found work, but you don't say What kind or when you will be coming home. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 80, dear Michael and John, my sons I'm sorry to give you the very sad news That your dear old mother has gone. We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly, Your brothers and Brigid were there. You don't have to worry, she died very quickly, Remember her in your prayers. And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning, With money he's sure to buy land For the crop has been poor and the people Are selling at any price that they can. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 90, my dear and loving son John I guess that I must be close on to eighty, It's thirty years since you're gone. Because of all of the money you send me, I'm still living out on my own. Michael has built himself a fine house And Brigid's daughters have grown. Thank you for sending your family picture, They're lovely young women and men. You say that you might even come for a visit, What joy to see you again. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 92, my dear brother John I'm sorry that I didn't write sooner to tell you that father passed on. He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful And healthy right down to the end. Ah, you should have seen him play with The grandchildren of Pat McNamara, your friend. And we buried him alongside of mother, Down at the Kilkelly churchyard. He was a strong and a feisty old man, Considering his life was so hard. And it's funny the way he kept talking about you, He called for you in the end. Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit, We'd all love to see you again. Sometimes the simplest of songs have the most soul ~ Slaint'e
None of my family ever got "back home" though we dreamed of it throughout our lives. I somehow knew I would someday, but I have come to believe that "someday" will never arrive. I'll look at the pictures and listen to the music and weep. How strange to feel homesick for a place I've never been. My people came here as bondslaves, often referred to as bond servants, having to work off their passage. Brothers and sisters were parted, not seeing each other again till they were in their 70s.
So sad for you, I hope you get to go home one day. You don't have to have come from Ireland yourself to feel homesick, it's in your blood, your DNA and racial memory. I too dream of going home but I don't think it'll happen. 😞
Mick Moloney's version of this song is both beautiful and heart wrenching. Easily brings one to the point of tears. My favorite by far, though I'm a huge fan of Blackthorn's interpretation. I share Mick Moloney's when I want to introduce friends to the song. Simply amazing. Erin go Bragh
Mick Moloney's Version - Kilkelly: Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John Your good friend the schoolmaster Pat McNamara's so good As to write these words down. Your brothers have all gone to find work in England, The house is so empty and sad The crop of potatoes is sorely infected, A third to a half of them bad. And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell Are going to be married in June. Your mother says not to work on the railroad And be sure to come on home soon. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 70, my dear and loving son John Hello to your Mrs and to your four children, May they grow healthy and strong. Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble, I suppose that he never will learn. Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of And now we have nothing to burn. Brigid is happy, you named a child for her A'though she's got six of her own. You say you found work, but you don't say what kind or when you will be coming home. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 80, dear Michael and John, my sons I'm sorry to give you the very sad news That your dear old mother has gone. We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly, Your brothers and Brigid were there. Y' don't have to worry, she died very quickly, Remember her in your prayers. And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning, With money he's sure to buy land For the crop has been poor and the people are selling at any price that they can. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 90, my dear and loving son John I suppose that I must be close on to eighty, It's thirty years since you're gone. Because of all of the money you send me, I'm still living out on my own. Michael has built himself a fine house And Brigid's daughters have grown. Thank you for sending your family picture, They're lovely young women and men. You say that you might even come for a visit, What joy to see you again. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 92, my dear brother John I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you, that father passed on. He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful And healthy right down to the end. Ah, you should'a've seen him playin with The grandchildren of Pat McNamara, your friend. And we buried him alongside of mother, Down at't Kilkelly churchyard. He was a strong and a feisty old man, Considering his life was so hard. And it's funny the way he kept talking about you, He called for you at the end. Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit, We'd all love to see you again. there yas go, the right version! because everyone dont listen too well to the actual singer, lines and words get misplaced making it hard to sing. dont get me wrong, I'm thankful you copy/try to write the lyrics at all but ffs give it a once, twice and trice over, will ya? no need making irish music any harder to sing than it already be. rocky road to dublin! when does Luke stop to take a breath???
I'm irish,and this video made me so home sick fur irelan,before I ever went there. I went take Dublin,and Belfast,love them both,the best of both worlds.The son in Amerrikka,made sacrifices,but the end was supremely too sad,and bring ' many a tears to me eyes. God bless our beloved irish kind folk,they've been a great blessing indeed! Mates,& lasses. May God bless years awl till ,at another point when we may meet ,once again! slang slante!
Of the 11,000 tracks on my ipod this is the saddest. Beautiful but so desperately sad. Written by Steven and Peter Jones this version was released on the 1991 BBC double cd Bringing it all Back Home it is credited to Mick Moloney, Jimmy Keane, Robbie O'Connell.
Put this on fb. Documentary 'Bringing It All Back Home' was BBC2 documentary around 1988. Bought the album (Irish/American music). This was Dubliners really. Beautiful and moving song. I'm half-English and ashamed. Thanks 4 putting this on. Educate people. Sean M.
The post translates as: The video is magnificent. The song is very emotional (especially this interpretation by Mick Moloney). It* sorrowfully shows the sad reality of Ireland in the 19th Century. Good understanding of the immigrants. *"Elle" actually means "she." French, unlike English, assigns gender to nouns. "Chanson," which means "song," is a feminine noun.
God bless you! The struggle is understated since the English used to apply the "N-word" to the Irish in the 800's which had NOTHING to do with color of skin. Dia agus Máire a bheith leatsa!
La vidéo est magnifique. La chanson est très émouvante (surtout celle interprêtée par Mick Moloney).Elle correspond malheureusement àla triste rélité de l'irlande au 19è siècle. Bien étudier les paroles .
ANDY O BRIEN WHO PLAYED WITH THE GREEN FIELDS OF AMRICA WAS A GREAT SINGER AND GUITAR PLAYER WHRE IS HE NOW HE WAS A NATIVE OF KERRY FROM A PLACE CALLED TIERNABOWL A FE MILES OUTSIDE KILLARNEY
Well super its as Yeats said, "For we are the great Gales of Ireland, the men that God made mad. For all our wars are happy and all our songs are sad."
Irish emigration is like Algerian emigration nowdays.young people leave Algeria because of hard living conditions and poverty.Once in Europe or Canada or USA they suffer more and more from loneliness and nostalgia.
Just because the son went to America did not mean he made it big…the ability to jump on an airliner for not a great deal of money was not an option, even today it can be financially prohibitive….
yeah maybe he wasn't a big shot but still, the lyrics mention he found work, started an own family with multiple kids and kept sending his father money so he could keep living on his own until he was very old. Also even if he was relatively poor compared to other Americans after all that, it still stands to reason that he could have visited his family at least once during the 30 or so years they lived apart. You don't need to fly either, you can take a ship. Plus he made it over there in the opposite direction too in the first place...
I sang this song for a talent show at my church. When I started to rehearse, it took me seven tries till I could get the whole way through without breaking up. It's the most emotional song I know.
Rest in piece, Mick Maloney.
Can never hear this song without tearing up. I can hear the longing in his voice.
Beautiful sad story of mid 19th Irish history and travel separation. Gives me chills...
Love and loss--yes, that is Life. I've just heard this song for the first time on NPR. I cried because of my own losses and loneliness. Here's hoping you all have someone to encourage you, and faith to keep on.
--Lori J.
Kilkelly ~ Peter Jones
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John
Your good friend the schoolmaster Pat McNamara's so good
As to write these words down.
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England,
The house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected,
A third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell
Are going to be married in June.
Your mother says not to work on the railroad
And be sure to come on home soon.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 70, dear and loving son John
Hello to your Mrs and to your 4 children,
May they grow healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble,
I guess that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
And now we have nothing to burn.
And Brigid is happy, you named a child for her
And now she's got six of her own.
You say you found work, but you don't say
What kind or when you will be coming home.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 80, dear Michael and John, my sons
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
That your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly,
Your brothers and Brigid were there.
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly,
Remember her in your prayers.
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning,
With money he's sure to buy land
For the crop has been poor and the people
Are selling at any price that they can.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 90, my dear and loving son John
I guess that I must be close on to eighty,
It's thirty years since you're gone.
Because of all of the money you send me,
I'm still living out on my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house
And Brigid's daughters have grown.
Thank you for sending your family picture,
They're lovely young women and men.
You say that you might even come for a visit,
What joy to see you again.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 92, my dear brother John
I'm sorry that I didn't write sooner to tell you that father passed on.
He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful
And healthy right down to the end.
Ah, you should have seen him play with
The grandchildren of Pat McNamara, your friend.
And we buried him alongside of mother,
Down at the Kilkelly churchyard.
He was a strong and a feisty old man,
Considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,
He called for you in the end.
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,
We'd all love to see you again.
Sometimes the simplest of songs have the most soul ~ Slaint'e
Amazing and beautiful song. There are many versions on Spotify, but this will never be bettered for my money.
None of my family ever got "back home" though we dreamed of it throughout our lives. I somehow knew I would someday, but I have come to believe that "someday" will never arrive. I'll look at the pictures and listen to the music and weep. How strange to feel homesick for a place I've never been. My people came here as bondslaves, often referred to as bond servants, having to work off their passage. Brothers and sisters were parted, not seeing each other again till they were in their 70s.
So sad for you, I hope you get to go home one day. You don't have to have come from Ireland yourself to feel homesick, it's in your blood, your DNA and racial memory. I too dream of going home but I don't think it'll happen. 😞
Beautiful and accurate depiction of the experience of some…
Mick Moloney's version of this song is both beautiful and heart wrenching. Easily brings one to the point of tears. My favorite by far, though I'm a huge fan of Blackthorn's interpretation. I share Mick Moloney's when I want to introduce friends to the song. Simply amazing.
Erin go Bragh
Mick Moloney's Version - Kilkelly:
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John
Your good friend the schoolmaster Pat McNamara's
so good As to write these words down.
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England,
The house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected,
A third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell
Are going to be married in June.
Your mother says not to work on the railroad
And be sure to come on home soon.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 70, my dear and loving son John
Hello to your Mrs and to your four children,
May they grow healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble,
I suppose that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
And now we have nothing to burn.
Brigid is happy, you named a child for her
A'though she's got six of her own.
You say you found work, but you don't say what kind
or when you will be coming home.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 80, dear Michael and John, my sons
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
That your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly,
Your brothers and Brigid were there.
Y' don't have to worry, she died very quickly,
Remember her in your prayers.
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning,
With money he's sure to buy land
For the crop has been poor and the people are selling
at any price that they can.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 90, my dear and loving son John
I suppose that I must be close on to eighty,
It's thirty years since you're gone.
Because of all of the money you send me,
I'm still living out on my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house
And Brigid's daughters have grown.
Thank you for sending your family picture,
They're lovely young women and men.
You say that you might even come for a visit,
What joy to see you again.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 92, my dear brother John
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you, that father passed on.
He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful
And healthy right down to the end.
Ah, you should'a've seen him playin with The grandchildren
of Pat McNamara, your friend.
And we buried him alongside of mother,
Down at't Kilkelly churchyard.
He was a strong and a feisty old man,
Considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,
He called for you at the end.
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,
We'd all love to see you again.
there yas go, the right version!
because everyone dont listen too well to the actual singer, lines and words get misplaced making it hard to sing.
dont get me wrong, I'm thankful you copy/try to write the lyrics at all but ffs give it a once, twice and trice over, will ya? no need making irish music any harder to sing than it already be.
rocky road to dublin! when does Luke stop to take a breath???
I'm irish,and this video made me so home sick fur irelan,before I ever went there. I went take Dublin,and Belfast,love them both,the best of both worlds.The son in Amerrikka,made sacrifices,but the end was supremely too sad,and bring ' many a tears to me eyes. God bless our beloved irish kind folk,they've been a great blessing indeed! Mates,&
lasses. May God bless years awl till ,at another point when we may meet ,once again! slang slante!
This is certainly Robbie O'Connell. I'd recognize that heavenly voice anywhere.
El Paso Texas holds many many fans of Mick Maloney & Eugene O'Donell...The Bohn Can says HI!
Beautiful song, truly wonderful to hear of such shared life stories and more. Thank you for sharing this one.
Of the 11,000 tracks on my ipod this is the saddest. Beautiful but so desperately sad.
Written by Steven and Peter Jones this version was released on the 1991 BBC double cd Bringing it all Back Home it is credited to Mick Moloney, Jimmy Keane, Robbie O'Connell.
Not Mick Money singing this song, he's playing the banjo. RIP MICK
Put this on fb. Documentary 'Bringing It All Back Home' was BBC2 documentary around 1988. Bought the album (Irish/American music). This was Dubliners really. Beautiful and moving song. I'm half-English and ashamed. Thanks 4 putting this on. Educate people. Sean M.
The post translates as:
The video is magnificent. The song is very emotional (especially this interpretation by Mick Moloney). It* sorrowfully shows the sad reality of Ireland in the 19th Century. Good understanding of the immigrants.
*"Elle" actually means "she." French, unlike English, assigns gender to nouns. "Chanson," which means "song," is a feminine noun.
Haunting song.
God bless you! The struggle is understated since the English used to apply the "N-word" to the Irish in the 800's which had NOTHING to do with color of skin. Dia agus Máire a bheith leatsa!
La vidéo est magnifique. La chanson est très émouvante (surtout celle interprêtée par Mick Moloney).Elle correspond malheureusement àla triste rélité de l'irlande au 19è siècle. Bien étudier les paroles .
Vocals by Robbie McConnell with Mick Moloney singing backup.
What is the name of the accordion instrumental in this piece of
beautiful music
ANDY O BRIEN WHO PLAYED WITH THE GREEN FIELDS OF AMRICA WAS A GREAT SINGER AND GUITAR PLAYER WHRE IS HE NOW HE WAS A NATIVE OF KERRY FROM A PLACE CALLED TIERNABOWL A FE MILES OUTSIDE KILLARNEY
Well super its as Yeats said, "For we are the great Gales of Ireland, the men that God made mad. For all our wars are happy and all our songs are sad."
Hello, Daniel. May I just point out that the quote, "For the great gaels of Ireland...." etc. is taken from GK Chesterton, and not Yeats.
great song, but sad at the same time
Irish emigration is like Algerian emigration nowdays.young people leave Algeria because of hard living conditions and poverty.Once in Europe or Canada or USA they suffer more and more from loneliness and nostalgia.
The Cast has an even more haunting version of this song. Either way, doesn't matter who sings it, it's a good view at 19th C Irish immigration
Sure sounds like Robbie O'Connell to me.
a son who never comes to visit his family :/
Just because the son went to America did not mean he made it big…the ability to jump on an airliner for not a great deal of money was not an option, even today it can be financially prohibitive….
yeah maybe he wasn't a big shot but still, the lyrics mention he found work, started an own family with multiple kids and kept sending his father money so he could keep living on his own until he was very old. Also even if he was relatively poor compared to other Americans after all that, it still stands to reason that he could have visited his family at least once during the 30 or so years they lived apart. You don't need to fly either, you can take a ship. Plus he made it over there in the opposite direction too in the first place...
Dont speak or understand your language sry mate
No english?
greez