Introduction
The history of humanity is replete with examples in which the more powerful countries have tried to manipulate or influence the lives of other, less influential people. A typical example of this relationship is the Great Hunger, which originated in Ireland in 1845 due to the constant actions of England (Learn About the Great Hunger 1). This essay discusses the lyrics of the song “Famine” by the author, Sinead O’Connor.
It is important to emphasize that the lyrics of the song are not only a retelling of the events of that period, but they convey the feelings and expressions of the author regarding the famine in Ireland. The song “Famine” allows people not to forget the critical moments in the history of relations between England and Ireland and emphasizes the importance of avoiding the repetition of the experience of the Great Hunger.
The First Line
To analyze the first line of the song lyrics, “Famine” by Sinead O’Connor, particular attention was paid to the peculiarities of the food taken from the Irish by England. As O’Connor wrote, “were shipped out of the country under the armed guard” (7). If one evaluates the context of these words, it is essential to emphasize that the song’s author points to the coercion and cruelty of the process. Armed guards, in this context, act as the court that decides who should own the food and who should take it away. In doing so, O’Connor expresses the idea that the Irish were simple, trusting people who could not stand up to armed men.
To understand this problem better, it will be vital to consider the information on the official website of Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum. It has been stated that a significant amount of people died because of the absence of food. Meanwhile, a significant number of it was exported to England (Learn About the Great Hunger 2). In her song, O’Connor highlights that Irish people starved when the food should belong to England (O’Connor 8). As my reaction to this line, I should emphasize that I was unfamiliar with this part of the history between England and Ireland and was negatively surprised by these nuances. In addition, O’Connor was able to masterly apply the necessary words to create rhythm and rhyme and accurately convey the problem of the famine.
The Second Line
The second chosen line of the song, “Famine,” was considered to describe the process of preventing Irish people from preserving and developing their culture, traditions, and language. As O’Connor states, “They gave us money not to teach our children Irish” (10). It is important to stress that due to such rhetoric, the song’s author makes the transition from the original understanding of the word “famine” regarding food to a much broader meaning. The last paragraph discussed words that denote famine as a lack of food and the resulting critical consequences for the people of Ireland. The second chosen line of the song contextually defines famine as a lack of culture, a prohibition on the right to be an independent, self-sufficient nation, and on its history and language. The fatality of the situation described in this line is a language ban not only for current but for future generations of Irish, which is expressed in the words “not to teach our children Irish” (O’Connor 10). My reaction to reading this line was to realize a deeper and more critical problem from the Great Hunger for the Irish than famine itself.
The Third Line
The third line of the song “Famine” highlights the result of the Great Hunger for the Irish people. According to O’Connor, “but they lose contact with the memory” (16). In analyzing the context of this line, it will be essential to determine the critical consequences of both famine and the various prohibitions against Irish culture. The typical outcomes of these processes include child abuse, high levels of alcoholism, domestic violence, and others (O’Connor, Garrett 3). In addition, many people left the country and immigrated in search of a better life. These factors highlight the fact of losing the national identity of the Irish people. Therefore, it depicts the context of the meaning of the words losing contact with the memory. This line finally convinced me of the cruelty and injustice to the Irish. In my opinion, the lyrics of “Famine” define the actions of England as genocide of the Irish people, emphasizing that the eradication of the cultural heritage had a focus on the younger generations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to stress that in the lyrics of the song “Famine” by Sinead O’Connor, it is vital to consider the context and carefully analyze the meaning of the words. Thankfully, the reader or listener can correctly assess the events taking place at the time, understand the topics the author implemented in the song, and feel her experiences and emotions. The song is about the events of the Great Hunger in Ireland. Moreover, lyrics can help to understand the criticality of the consequences of this event for the Irish, expressed in factors such as alcoholism, violence, loss of memory, and others described in the essay. The song “Famine” is a landmark example of how art can remind people of their history.
Works Cited
“Learn About the Great Hunger”. Ireland’s Great Hunder Museum. Web.
O’Connor, Garrett. “Breaking the Code of Silence: The Irish and Drink” Irish America Magazine. Web.
O’Connor, Sinéad. (1994). “Famine”. Genius. Web.
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