From the recording The Holy Ground

The song is about a man who goes to Mexico from Ireland and gets involved in the War of Independence there. It always feels like a very personal song. I played the "elephant" guitar on this one, and a 12 string guitar solo midway through the song. I was delighted to have Davie Paton playing bass on this one. Davie used to be the bass player/singer/writer with the pop band Pilot. I remember seeing them on "Top Of The Pops" many years ago. He's a great player and a great guy. This song has been recorded by Andy Irvine and Mary Black among others.

Lyrics

I was born on the holy ground
a running boy in fields of clover
living in the grandeur of my father's land

By the side of the swirling sea
I spent the days of childish wonder
and the rocks i held in my young hands
I never felt them slip away

Well the sun shone bright upon the waves
and the wind blew high as i was leaving
and i sailed so far away
looking for adventure

But i would not stay where the city streets
proclaimed so loudly man's endeavour
though music is a pretty thing
in fine company

And the wilderness took my breath away
under a sun that never falters
A man has to find his way
where no-one ever goes

It was in the south where my new home lay
with a dark eyed girl and wild horses
with hummingbirds and roses there
in old Mexico

There the winds of change they blew so far
of liberty and revolution
and it seemed that each man heard in his breast
the drumming of a nation

Oh on the field where the guns did play
i fell there with many another
where the sage brush grows and the desert wind is blowing free

I was born on the holy ground
a running boy in fields of clover
living in the grandeur of my fathers land