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American Townland

by INTERFERENCE

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about

Originally recorded in 2012 this version is from the ‘Breaking Out’ soundtrack album by Interference. American Townland began as a poem by Malcolm MacClancy while he was still attending secondary school in the mid eighties with Fergus O’Farrell, by 1991 it had become an interference song shaped by the ongoing first gulf war and a live favourite, particularly when played during one of the many anti-war concerts interference were involved with at this time.

The lyrics were somewhat foretelling … considering they were written over a decade before the attack on the twin towers in New York in 2001.

“Once were towering steeples, now there’s a soaring eagle. A crescent moon and a rising sun…”

The song resurfaced during the second gulf conflict and remained in the interference live set thereafter, it was finally committed to tape in 2012 for the forthcoming album ‘The Sweet Spot’, the long awaited second album from O’Farrell and Co. released after O’Farrells passing on his first anniversary in early 2017.

It was re-mixed by long standing interference/O’Farrell sound engineer and producer DanDan Fitzgerald and re-mastered by multi award winning producer Bob Ludwig for the soundtrack album for the multi award winning Michael McCormack film of O’Farrells life and music , ‘Breaking Out’ which had its cinema release in 2021 (having been delayed for two years due to C19 lockdowns).

Sadly today it’s message remains the same and very, very relevant to the current explosion of violence in the middle east. This is ‘American Townland’ …

lyrics

__________________________________________________

American Townland (O’Farrell / MacClancy)

American townland,
snow and Iceland
Russian farmland
and the sword of Islam.

The state of new Israel remembers Belsen
now the sand of Palestine is the grass for Israel.

Won’t you settle down.
stop fighting for your Gods.
They can’t hear you now
not with the noise of your guns.

Woah settle down.
stop fighting for your Gods.
They can’t hear you now
not with the noise of your guns.

Once were towering steeples
now there’s a soaring eagle.
a crescent moon and a rising sun.

our prayers ascending- what good will they bring.
when all's that’s willing is more and more killing.

Won't you settle down.
stop fighting for your Gods.
They can’t hear you now
not with the noise of your guns.

Woah settle down.
stop fighting for your Gods.
They can’t hear you now
not with the noise of your guns

We’ve got the Mountains of Mourne
the County Cork I was born in

Any dirty old town where the rain keeps on falling.
our prayers ascending, but what good will they bring?
if all that’s willing is more and more killing…..

credits

released February 2, 2022
________________________________________________________

Fergus O’Farrell vocals
Paul Tiernan acoustic guitar
James O’Leary acoustic guitar, electric guitar
John Fitzgerald upright bass, hammond organ
Bertrand Galen cello
Marja Gaynor violin

original recorded by john fitzgerald in lettercollum recording studio, timoleague & dandan fitzgerald in soundsound , cork & mixed by dandan at soundsound, cork, ireland.

original recording, re-engineered and mixed by dandan fitzgerald in soundsound studio, cork, ireland.
re-mastered by bob ludwig in gateway mastering studio, portland, maine, usa

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INTERFERENCE Cork, Ireland

Interference are the legendary Irish band based around singer-songwriter Fergus O'Farrell. Their sound has influenced a generation of Irish musicians. this group have an almost mythical status amongst their peers.
The award winning film documentary 'Breaking Out' , based on the life of O'Farrell was released in November 2021. ... more

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