Sinéad O'Connor – Paddy's Lament

Issued for European Radio Stations.
From the forthcoming album "Sean-Nós Nua".

LINER NOTES

Paddy's Lament: "This song tells the story of an Irish immigrant to the US in the 19th century. In flight from hunger, he finds himself conscripted under General Lincoln in the American Civil War. General Thomas Francis Meagher, from Waterford, was organiser and commander of the Irish Brigade in the Union Army. I first heard the song twelve years ago when I was living in Los Angeles during the Gulf War. The incredible Mary Black was the singer. It was sung so beautifully that needless to say it struck a large chord. It is the best anti-war song ever made, in my humble opinion. The ghost of the man speaking through the song is so present that I feel I could reach out and touch him and he'd be flesh and bone. I can see him so clearly in my mind. It's a tricky song to sing because it requires the singer to become the ghost. You have to believe in ghosts to be open to singing it. Then he jumps right in and off he goes, little old guy with a very big message." ... Sinéad

Óró Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile: "This song, for me, celebrates the return of any woman to her power, having lost it to invading forces. It is an honouring of the female warrior spirit and of the right of women to be true to themselves despite what the world dictates they 'should' be. A song celebrating the preciousness of female ferocity, strength and fire. It shows that a suppressed spirit only creates loss and depression and that only by being one's true self can one find joy. This is represented by the coming of summer in the song. It was taught to all young school children in Ireland until recently, but its meaning was never explained. We were taught it was a rowing song. In actuality is is a war song in honour of Grace O'Malley otherwise known as Gráinne Mhaol, a warrior noblewoman of Ireland who lived at the time of Elizabeth I, and whose ships were a formidable force on the Irish west coast." ... Sinéad