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The Famine Suite : (i) Absentee Landlords 1840

from In the Home of my Ancestors by Gavin O'Loghlen & Cotters Bequest

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about

The potato famine of the 1840's was the single most important factor in the modern shape of Ireland and indeed of Australia. From 1845 until 1851, potatoes, the staple diet of the agricultural classes in Western Ireland, were savaged. Both my great great grandfathers were affected and it led to their emigration to Australia.

In Ireland at the time there were two distinct classes - the labourers, or Cotters as they called themselves, and the landlords. The latter lived in large houses in either Dublin or England, while the Cotters lived in hovels of one and two rooms dotted over the estates. Michael O'Loghlen and John Henry Cahill were both Cotters.

lyrics

The Famine Suite : (i) Absentee Landlords 1840

A cry in the night, welcome to a cruel world
the Angel of Death on a crowded road
and the baby lies, a lifeless form in a dank and dirty room
a mother crying, sad, forlorn
twelve haunted eyes look on rent is due and the money's gone
welcome to the Cotter's same sad song.

And I've seen these same scenes in a thousand households
and I've heard this same sound like a thousand screams
touched those same cold dead hands....
...... in my dreams

When fate dealt the cards, it was from a crooked deck
the Angel of Wealth held a loaded hand
from a window high in Dublin's best
chat the happy gloating guests
a rotten borough's win has lined the nest
new social rounds to please the wife the chase, the bottle and the pipe
welcome to the Landlord's way of life.

And the social divide's like a yawning chasm
and the same cards are dealt to the same extremes
yet the truth will prevail......
...... in your dreams.

credits

from In the Home of my Ancestors, released September 17, 1997
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic 6 & 12 string guitars, drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, highland pipes, lead vocals

Stephanie Graeber : Violin

Suzannah Graeber : Violin

Angelee Theodoros : Cello

Jacqui Yeo : Vocals

Malachy O'Reilly : Voice

Harry Theodoros : Accordion

Music and words written by Gavin O'Loghlen

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Gavin O'Loghlen Australia

Cotters Bequest is a seven piece progressive Celtic band playing 28 instruments including Highland, Uilleann, Northumbrian and Scottish smallpipes, Irish whistles, violin, cello and accordion wrapped in layers of acoustic and electric guitars, vintage keyboards and rich vocal harmonies.

In the style of "a Celtic King Crimson..a Pink Floyd with bagpipes.. with a sprinkling of Peter Gabriel." ... more

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