“Back Home in Derry” with new air

On January 27, 2018 By rebelbreezeIn Cultural Comment, History, Ireland, Irish Diaspora, irish history, Irish Republicanism, Irlanda, La Diáspora Irlandesa, Liberación Nacional, National Liberation, Poetry, Political Prisoners, Presos Políticos, Republicanismo Irlandes, Song

Bobby Sands, who was the first of the ten hunger strikers to die in 1981, had written a number of articles, songs and poems. One of the latter was arranged for song by Christy Moore, calling it “Back Home In Derry” to the air of “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (by Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot).

The rendition here by Diarmuid Breatnach is to a new air composed also by Breatnach. Although he has been singing it for some years in song sessions, this is the first time it has been posted as a video.

“I thought that the lyrics and the original author deserved a new air”, said Breatnach, a Dublin singer. “Christy Moore did a great job arranging the lyrics for song. I hope the new air becomes at least as popular as Gordon Lightfoot’s.”