The Wind That Shakes the Barley facts for kids

The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a famous Irish song. It's a ballad written by Robert Dwyer Joyce, who was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1836. He was a poet and a professor.

The song tells the story from the point of view of a young rebel from County Wexford. This rebel is about to join the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and fight for Ireland's freedom. He has to leave his loved one to join the fight.

The song mentions barley because rebels often carried barley or oats in their pockets. This was their food when they were marching. After the rebellion, barley sometimes grew from the "croppy-holes." These were unmarked mass graves where rebels who died were buried. For many Irish nationalists, the growing barley in these spots became a symbol. It showed that resistance to British rule in Ireland would always grow back, just like the barley each spring.

This song is very old and has been sung in many different ways over time. Famous Irish singers like Sarah Makem have performed it. There are often small changes in the words depending on who is singing it. The title of the song was also used for a 2006 movie by Ken Loach, called The Wind That Shakes the Barley. The song itself is even featured in one scene of the movie. It's important not to confuse this song with a fast Irish dance tune, which is also called a reel.

What are the Lyrics of the Song?

The words below are from the original version of the song, printed in 1861.

I sat within a valley green,

I sat there with my true love,

My sad heart strove the two between,

The old love and the new love, -

The old for her, the new that made

Me think of Ireland dearly,

While soft the wind blew down the glade

And shook the golden barley

'Twas hard the woeful words to frame

To break the ties that bound us

'Twas harder still to bear the shame

Of foreign chains around us

And so I said, "The mountain glen

I'll seek next morning early

And join the brave United Men!"

While soft winds shook the barley

While sad I kissed away her tears,

My fond arms 'round her flinging,

The foeman's shot burst on our ears,

From out the wildwood ringing, -

A bullet pierced my true love's side,

In life's young spring so early,

And on my breast in blood she died

While soft winds shook the barley!

I bore her to the wildwood screen,

And many a summer blossom

I placed with branches thick and green

Above her gore-stain'd bosom:-

I wept and kissed her pale, pale cheek,

Then rushed o'er vale and far lea,

My vengeance on the foe to wreak,

While soft winds shook the barley!

But blood for blood without remorse,

I've ta'en at Oulart Hollow

And placed my true love's clay-cold corpse

Where I full soon will follow;

And 'round her grave I wander drear,

Noon, night, and morning early,

With breaking heart whene'er I hear

The wind that shakes the barley!

Who Has Sung This Song?

Many different artists have recorded their own versions of "The Wind That Shakes the Barley." Some of these include:

• Loreena McKennitt
• The Dubliners
• Dolores Keane
• Dead Can Dance (sung by Lisa Gerrard)
• Altan
• Solas
• The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
• Dick Gaughan
• The Irish Rovers (who called their version "The Wind That Shakes the Corn")

How Else Has This Name Been Used?

The name "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" has been used for other things too:

• A painting by Seán Keating in 1941.
• A poem by Katharine Tynan.
• A fast Irish dance tune, also called a reel.
• A book by James Barke about the Scottish poet Robert Burns, published in 1946.
• A music album by Loreena McKennitt released in 2010.
• A song on the album The Tall Ships by the band It Bites (2008).
• A song on the "Dead Can Dance" album Into the Labyrinth, sung by Lisa Gerrard.