The Roads Of Kerry lyrics

Craig Shields

Once I walked the roads of County Kerry
I walked the hills of emerald green
And I dreamed of the girl that I would marry
And of the way our life would be.

But down each road there’s many a bend
And not all flowers bear fruit in the end

Now I walk alone o’er the roads of Kerry
I walk these hills of misty green
And I think of the girl that I did marry
And of a life that might have been.

For down each road there’s many a bend
And not all flowers bear fruit in the end

So I’ll walk no more o’er the roads of Kerry
I’ll walk no more these hills of green
Still I’ll long for the girl that I did marry
And for the love she gave to me.

Song Details

Songwriter: Craig Shields

Arranged, performed, produced and mixed by: Elizabeth Petzold (Elle P)

Recorded: 2021 at Ersa Records (independent music label based in Toronto)

Publisher: Ersa Music Publishing

Instrumentation: Tin whistle, Irish fiddle, Celtic harp, hammered Dulcimer, bagpipes and the Carnyx (wind instrument of the Iron Age Celts, used between c. 200 BC and c. AD 200.)

Brief: Recently I received an email from Craig asking if I would post a song he wrote in memory of his late wife. Here's a little of what he had to say...

This song is in memory of my wife, Blanche Shields, who died in a car crash at the age of 29. The year following the accident, I spent some time wandering the countryside of southwest Ireland, which provided the inspiration for the song.
For Blanche and all those loved ones whose lives have been cut short...

I was delighted to hear from Craig and honour his request - a beautiful and meaningful song with a heartfelt message. It made me realize that we must hold on tight and treasure the ones we love, as the road is long, and in the blink of an eye, we can take a wrong turn with devastating effects.

The song is a deeply moving piece about love, loss, and acceptance. The lyrics depict a poignant and reflective journey through life and love, set against the backdrop of the beautiful landscape of County Kerry in Ireland. The narrator begins with hope and dreams of a future with the woman they wish to marry, only to encounter the twists and turns of life, symbolized by the bends in the road. The narrative then shifts to a bittersweet reflection, where the narrator walks alone, contemplating what might have been and mourning the loss of love and companionship, and sadly in this instance, Blanche... the love of his life.

Genre: Folk Song

Featured Artist: Elle P

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