Does "The Fields of Athenry" have a match?

[boysingreen]

Suppose the simple answer, at least in the Irish soccer/rugby fan songbook, is no.

Personally, love the song "Lough Sheelin Eviction", it only struck me today how similar it is to the Fields (first and foremost just two great ballads, both are of the same period, and both are great when sung by a group).


Farewell my country a long farewell
My tale of anguish no tongue can tell
For I'm forced to fly o'er the ocean wide
from the home I love by Lough Sheelin side.

How proud was I of my girl so fair
I was envied most by the young men there
When I brought her back a bashful bride
To my cottage home by Lough Sheelin side.


(Chorus)
Farewell my love a fond adieu
Farewell my comrades and my country too
For I'm forced to fly o'er the ocean wide
From the home I love by Lough Sheelin side.


But all our joys were too good to last
for the Landlord came our young hopes to blast
In vain we pleaded for mercy no
He hurled us out in the blinding snow.
The no one opened for us their door
For ill-felt vengeance would reach them sure
My Eileen fainted in my arms and died
On that snowy night by Lough Sheelin side.


(Chorus)


I buried her down in the churchyard low
Where in the springtime the wild flowers grow
I shed no tears for my tongue felt dry
On that fearful night by Lough Sheelin side.
Farewell my country farewell all day
The ship will soon take me far away
But oh my fond heart would sooner bide
Near my Eileen's grave by Lough Sheelin side.

(Chorus)