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“Four Green Fields” is a popular Irish ballad that was written by TommyMakem in 1967. It is an allusion to the British colonization of Ireland and the division of Ireland into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in 1921. The song captures a sense of loss, Irish pride, and the bond between the Irish and their land.
The song was inspired by a drive through the borderland with Northern Ireland. Makem saw
an old woman tending her livestock, oblivious to the division between Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The song itself is full of symbolism. The
old woman in the song represents Ireland, and “sons” are the people of Ireland. “Four
Green Fields” represents the four provinces of Ireland: Connacht, Munster, Leinster,
and Ulster. Ulster is the province that encompasses Northern Ireland, which is
the province that was taken in the song. The “strangers” who took a field of
Ireland are the British occupying forces that often acted violently and
oppressively. The lyric, the "fourth green field will bloom once again,”
is a hope for a unified Ireland and a nod to Irish identity.
“Four Green Fields” as a song is an allegory for the state
of Northern Ireland. After World War I, it was seen that the UK would not be
able to rule over all of Ireland any longer. The UK decided they would have a
vote in Ulster (Northern Ireland) to see if they would like to remain under British
rule or be independent. Ulster was chosen because they are predominantly Protestant,
meaning its people would be more likely to vote to remain a part of the UK. The
other provinces that are now the Republic of Ireland are predominantly Catholic
and lean more towards Irish nationalism and independence.
During the Troubles, a period of conflict, violence, and
hardship that took place from the 1960s to the 1990s over the state of Northern
Ireland, “Four Green Fields” resonated with Irish communities worldwide. It
became an anthem for Irish unity and pride. The song has been covered by
several musicians. Some of the most notable renditions of the song include Makem
and Clancy, the High Kings, Dublin City Ramblers, the Dubliners, and other Irish
and Celtic musicians.
Related Articles:
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