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Trouble On The Ground

from Where You Call Home by rhob cunningham

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about

This song is based on letters sent by Thomas Messingham, an Irish hagiologist, from Paris to Ireland in the 1630's
They were intercepted by the English and are found today in Sheffield.
Thanks to Thomas O'Connor, Maynooth's ​Dean of Arts, Celtic Studies & Philosophy, for his talk in the CCI in Paris.

lyrics

Prices here have tripled
Your son is far from doing fine
There's trouble on the ground here but the sun still shines
There's another war a-comin'
And they're sayin' Thirty years

As another letter disappears


Dear friend,
there's 20 owing and there's 20 more he needs
'Tis nowhere near enough to serve the mouth he feeds
You could say there's cheek in asking
but your boy is wearin' thin
At the cost of war we've seen begin


Could you tell your local Father that we're looking for a turn
It's a favour that we're after with the news I've learned
I've a student heading homeward
with no direction planned
Won't you give him the privilege of a helping hand


This people this city have welcomed as their own
Neither loyal to the thistle nor the royal throne
They're loyal to exclusion won't you help me reel them in
Amid the spread of war we've seen begin


I've a student that I'm teaching, a house back home his aim
The dearly departed who share his name bequeathed it in a will
but there's a contest to the claim
Wont you help,
then suggest he might do the same?


The people, the patrons as I'm holding out my hand
I tell them I'm collecting by the lord's command
There's competition begging
But I've the Angels by my side
So, as long as they're looking, the good lord knows I tried



Fair Brother on the isle, I hear the herring failed to bite
May the harvest from the pastures keep you fed alright
It's a shocking shame the season failed the ship you sent to sea
But, if your fortunes change, friend,
send some to me!


While the Celt-ish steal our saints, the English rifle through our mail,
These inter-county rivalries'll still prevail
Well, I try to keep the peace and pray the people do as well
I shall write you again when there's more to tell


For
Prices here have tripled, your son is far from doing fine
There's trouble on the ground here but the sun still shines
There's another war a-comin'
And they're sayin' Thirty years

As another letter disappears

credits

from Where You Call Home, released December 11, 2015

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