The Wind That Shakes the Barley

The Wind That Shakes the Barley

"The Wind That Shakes the Barley" is an Irish ballad written by Robert Dwyer Joyce (1836–1883), a Limerick-born poet and professor of English literature. The song is written from the perspective of a doomed young Wexford rebel who is about to sacrifice his relationship with his loved one and plunge into the cauldron of violence associated with the 1798 rebellion in Ireland. The references to barley in the song derive from the fact that the rebels often carried barley or oats in their pockets as provisions for when on the march. This gave rise to the post-rebellion phenomenon of barley growing and marking the "croppy-holes," mass unmarked graves into which slain rebels were thrown, symbolizing the regenerative nature of Irish resistance to British rule. As the barley will grow every year in the Spring time of the year this is said to symbolize Irish resistance to British oppression and that Ireland will never yield and will always oppose British rule on the island. The song is no. 2994 in the Roud Folk Song Index. There are numerous small variations in different performed versions, and many performers leave out the fourth stanza of Dwyer Joyce's original version. The lyrics below are as those printed in the original 1861 version. The song's title was borrowed for Ken Loach's 2006 film of the same name, which features the song in one scene.

Genre: Drama, War
Production: IFC First Take
  6 wins & 23 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.5
Metacritic:
82
Rotten Tomatoes:
88%
NOT RATED
Year:
2006
127
$1,779,320
Website
3,918 Views

Share your thoughts on The Wind That Shakes the Barley's quotes with the community:

0 Comments

    Quote of the Day Today's Quote | Archive

    Would you like us to send you a FREE inspiring quote delivered to your inbox daily?

    Please enter your email address:

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this movie page to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Wind That Shakes the Barley Quotes." Quotes.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Dec. 2024. <https://www.quotes.net/movies/the_wind_that_shakes_the_barley_quotes_150406>.

    Know another quote from The Wind That Shakes the Barley?

    Don't let people miss on a great quote from the "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" movie - add it here!

    The Wind That Shakes the Barley

    Soundtrack

    »

    Quiz

    Are you a quotes master?

    »
    In which movie does this quote appear: "I don't like violence, Tom. I'm a businessman; blood is a big expense"?
    A Blade
    B The Godfather
    C Ocean's Eleven
    D Rush Hour