“The Wind That Shakes the Barley” is a song from the 18th century that was written by Dwyer Joyce. The song commemorates the 1798 Uprising. Like many Celtic songs, it tells a powerful story and has a deep history beyond the song itself.
The song is written from the perspective of a young rebel from Wexford. He
is forced to choose between two loves: Ireland and a woman. Ultimately, he
decides that his sadness for Ireland being colonized is stronger than parting ways
with the woman he loves. As he is telling her that he is going to fight, she
dies in his arms after being shot. He tells her that he will be following her,
foretelling his fate of dying while fighting for Ireland.
One argument and question that is brought up with the song
is that he could go fight for Ireland and remain in the relationship with the woman. However, he knew that it would have been
dangerous for her to be associated with a rebel. Her safety and even her life
would be at risked if they stayed together.
The barley that is mentioned in the song references the
barley oats the rebels carried as provisions on the march. This led to the
post-war barley growing and marking the “croppy holes,” which were mass
unmarked graves that the slain rebels were thrown into. The practice symbolizes
the regenerative nature of Irish resistance over British rule.
It is also said that when the rebels were placed in the
unmarked graves, people would see barley growing above the grave as the oats
the rebels carried began to grow. Again, this represented the strong spirit of
Irish nationalism that comes back stronger every time it is seemingly defeated.
Many musicians have covered the song. The Irish Rovers recorded the song, changing the title to “The
Wind That Shakes the Corn” and making the song more upbeat than other versions.
Other notable versions include the Chieftains, Loreena McKennitt, the
Dubliners, Delores Keane, and the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.
Today, the song still holds the power that it held when it
was first published and performed. The title of the song was borrowed for a
film of the same name, which is set during the Irish War of Independence from
1919 to 1921.
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