Song Lyric Sunday – “Fields of Ice”

“Fields of Ice” by The Ard Ri Band is, in my opinion, a perfect fit for this week’s theme of Freeze/Cold/Ice (thanks, Jim Adams), having all three words in the lyrics. Speaking of lyrics, this week I won’t be able to give you a link because they come from the writer, Ard Ri’s Philip James Wallace (courtesy of mutual friend, Kimberly Coyle Piper.)

Hailing from Derry, Northern Ireland, the band formed in 2007 as a three person acoustic/folk group, featuring Jonny Nutt (guitar and vocals), Philip Wallace (guitar and vocals), and Kevin Quigley (mandolin). All three were accomplished, well-known musicians, playing with other bands in the burgeoning Northern Ireland music scene when they joined forces. Playing primarily at bars and festivals, their sound evolved over the years with personnel changes and with Nutt and Wallace adding other instruments to their repertoires: bass and harmonica/percussion/drums/12-string/bass, respectively.

Since 2012 when they released “Fields of Ice” on their eponymous debut album, the line-up has remained relatively stable, with originals Nutt and Wallace, Ruairi O’Doherty on bass, Conor McAuley on drums, Marty Doherty on vocals and guitar, and with Conor O’Kane replacing Quigley on mandolin/mandola/banjo. Nowadays, this super-group occasionally welcomes guest appearances by other legendary local musicians–such as, Paddy Nash, Junior Johnson, and Keith Harkin.

The audio-only first clip is the studio version of “Fields of Ice” sung by songwriter Philip Wallace. The video was filmed at their album-release party featuring vocalist Marty Doherty.

Fields of Ice

I see baby lambs in the meadows over there
Pretty ladies smiling breeze blowing through their hair
Everybody’s lazing and doing their thing
The warm sunshine is extremely calming
The world is an ever-changing place
Of beautiful creatures all full of grace
But if we don’t help Mother Nature now
Summer will be like winter in Moscow

Em’ fields of ice
They’re not so nice
In the morning
I hear you calling
At the break of dawn
There’s something wrong
…..I’m freezing!

It was the coldest winter that I ever did see
I think nearly dropped to minus 30 degree
Had to crawl on my knees to the top my street
The whole damn thing was like a giant ice rink
Ice bergs floating down my local river
The more I think about it, I quiver and I shiver
Gonna need to buy a big woolly warm coat
Made from mammoth fur and the toughest mountain goat

Em’ fields of ice
They’re not so nice
In the morning
I hear you calling
At the break of dawn
There’s something wrong
…..I’m freezing!

Hailstones falling in the middle of July
I sometimes I wonder and I ask myself why
The four seasons are all rolling into one
And the smoke is black from the barrel of the gun
Winter is summer and springtime too
Not sure about autumn I don’t have a clue
What’s coming next will be a big surprise
Hold on tight my friends we’re all going for a ride
Em’ fields of ice
They’re not so nice
In the morning
I hear you calling
At the break of dawn
There’s something wrong
…..I’m freezing!
Hey ho where did the sun go?
Please come back with your sunny warm glow