|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
old
woman
in
the
song
is
Ireland,
and
her
four
sons
are
the
Four
Provinces:
Ulster,
Munster,
Leinster
and
Connaught.
The
third
verse
speaks
of
the
six
counties
of
Ulster
partitioned
by
the
British
in
1922
and
to
the
present
day
held
under
British
misrule.
|
|
|
|
Four
Green
Fields
|
"What
did I
have?",
said the
fine old
woman
"What
did I
have?",
this
proud
old
woman
did say
"I
had four
green
fields,
each one
was a
jewel
But
strangers
came and
tried to
take
them
from me
I had
fine,
strong
sons,
they
fought
to save
my
jewels
They
fought
and died
and that
was my
grief",
said she
"Long
time
ago",
said the
fine old
woman
"Long
time
ago",
this
proud
old
woman
did say
"There
was war
and
death,
plundering
and
pillage
My
children
starved
by
mountain,
valley
and sea
And
their
wailing
cries,
they
shook
the very
heavens
My four
green
fields
ran red
with
their
blood",
said she
"What
have I
now?",
said the
fine old
woman
"What
have I
now?",
this
proud
old
woman
did say
"I
have
four
green
fields,
one of
them's
in
bondage
In
strangers
hands
that
tried to
take it
from me
But my
sons
have
sons, as
brave as
were
their
fathers
My
fourth
green
field
will
bloom
once
again",
said she. |
|
|
|
|
|
