Feb 2022 unaccompanied folk song irish whistle intro
A semi-biographical account of my Irish background.
"Never forget you're Irish!"
That's what my Gran would say
"You may have been born in Liverpool
But you're Irish as St Patrick's Day
We didn't choose to come to England
We were forced to leave our land
Cos your Great Uncle fought for freedom
And killed some Black & Tans"
I was brought up on those rebels songs
Of betrayal and sacrifice
I had to learn by heart the names
Of those who'd paid the supreme price
To free the land from usurpers
Who had ruled with an iron hand
Through well armed soldiers who slaughtered
Our pike carrying rebel bands
Great Grandad's name was Curran
From Connemara he had hailed
But he had moved to Dublin
When the last of his crops had failed
To leave the west was torture
He had to learn a foreign tongue
He died before he was fifty
From the peat smoke in his lungs
His father had lived through the famine
But half his kids had died
His wife was taken early too
With God she now abides
As thousands starved the fields were full
Of corn and oats and wheat
Shipped off in boats to England
For the rich men's horses to eat
In the villages of Ireland
Once full of life and mirth
In the times of my Grandparents
There were far more deaths than births
Three million left for foreign shores
Of seven million women and men
The population is still smaller now
Than what it was back then
So when you ask why the Irish
Can't just forgive and forget
It's due to the tragic history
She suffered and suffers yet
No family was left unscathed
From emigration or exile
That's why History is alive and well
Across the Emerald Isle
@nancycunning Mar 2022
Wow. I love how you shine a strong light on particular people, and that light bounces around light up the listener and the world. I think it’s so powerful to take the world one person and one story at a time. Great idea, and incredible execution.
@billwhite51 Mar 2022
if only the denizens of the united states could be as honest and forthright about their history
@billwhite51 Mar 2022
if only the denizens of the united states could be as honest and forthright about their history
@vainhirvain Feb 2022
Big applause. Well sung and well written. The description of the starving population whose crops are fed to horses in another country brought tears to my eyes. This pattern is reality even today in many countires of the world. My grandparents also had to flee (or well, they were evacuated, from Karelia) and I find this song one of the most touching ones I've heard on this FAWM so far.
@sheilerk Feb 2022
This couldn't be any better. And it could be the story of many of my ancestors as well, which gives it a special place in my heart right out of the gate. Clearly your grandmother impressed your history upon you deeply, and it was well ingrained. This sounds like you were channeling all of the Irish men and women who lived through that awful time. This one should be passed down for generations to come!
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
Love this acapella version Berni. Wonderful story and great Irish lilt!
@pearlmanhattan Feb 2022
This is a gem! your accent, your voice, your phrasing - and your history and legacy all so intriguing. Thank you so much for sharing this! I really enjoyed the listen.
@chipwithrow Feb 2022
You have such a fine, mesmerizing a cappella voice. Powerful lyrics - both harrowing and resilient.
@wylddandelyon Feb 2022
A very nice tribute to your family.
@andrea Feb 2022
This is simply amazing. It is both historical and personal. Your singing is quite engaging. I enjoyed this so much!
@leakyplusme2 Feb 2022
I would love you to do one of mine called
That Forsaken Place ( Van Diemen’s Land )
https://fawm.org/songs/129025/
@porrectus Feb 2022
A great genealogical dirge. Sounds old, like it stepped out of the past. Really interesting story. Well done, great skirmish.
@tuneslayer Feb 2022
This could easily take its place alongside the songs that keep the history of Ireland alive. Well done my friend.
@keithcuts Feb 2022
Awesome intro !
Irish on st Patrick’s day cool line
This sounds great on its own
Quality tale well written !
@leakyplusme2 Feb 2022
That was unreal Ned Kelly would have been proud. Yes the Irish were shipped to Australia too God rest their souls.
@tcelliott Feb 2022
I like the strong sense of culture and nationalism you've brought to this lyric. And you've got a good melody to carry it.
@ajna1960 Feb 2022
Very good rendition of a trad Irish ballad, full of clear images and stories. Just what the best ones all contain. Also interesting to read the liner notes and the back story too.
@bradbrubaker Feb 2022
Oh, heck yeah. This is stunning. Paints a picture across the generations.
@mikeskliar Feb 2022
wow, this is the real deal- moving and historical and really accomplished, and perfect voice and tinwhistle backing...
@cindyrella Feb 2022
This is so tragic, as it was and your storytelling is great. This should go down in history as a story of Ireland. Great job!