Muhammad Al-Hussaini - The Boys of Barr na Sráide

(Twitter: @MYAlHussaini) The traditional song is from a poem composed by the Irish writer, Sigerson Clifford, which recalls his boyhood friends in Cahersiveen, County Kerry, and their growing up through the period of the Black and Tans and Civil War. The song refers to the pre-Christian custom of hunting for the wren on St Stephen's Day. It is performed by Muhammad Al-Hussaini on fiddle and vocals, accompanied by Paul Sims on guitar and Mark Patterson on mandolin. This song is dedicated with love to my brother and best friend Adam, and family.
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Oh the town, it climbs the mountain and looks out on the sea
In sleeping time or waking, it's there I long to be
To walk again those kindly streets, the place my life began
Where the Boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wren
With cudgels stout they roamed about to hunt the dreólín
We searched for birds in every furze from Litir to Dooneen
We danced for joy beneath the sky, life held no print nor plan
For the Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren
And when the hills were bleeding and the rifles they were aflame
To the rebel homes of Kerry the Saxon stranger came
But the ones who fought the Auxies or who beat the Black and Tans
Were the Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren
And here's a health to them tonight, those lads who laughed with me
By the groves of Carham river or the slopes of Bean 'a Tí
John Daly and Batt Andy and the Sheehans, Con and Dan
Were the Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren
And now they toil on foreign soil, and they have gone their way
Deep in the heart of London or over in Broadway
And I am left to sing their deeds and praise them while I can
Oh the Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren
And when the wheel of life comes round and peace comes over me
Oh lay me down in that old town between the hills and sea
I'll take my sleep in those green fields, the place my life began
Where the Boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wren

[@zoologist1992]

Muhammed, you do great work for our Irish culture.

[@MacEoin]

Eoghan Rua Ó Néill. I can't agree with your rather harsh judgement on this fine rendering of the song. My favourite Irish singer is Muireann Nic Amhlaoidh, and she sings The Boys of Barr na Sráide with DSanú. Listen to her rendition (it's here on KZbin) and you will find that the pace and tone are very similar. I don't think Muhammad can be faulted in that way. His achievement in learning Irish, playing the fiddle and singing in Irish and English in a wholly professional manner that has won him awards for his sean nós singing is wholly admirable.

[@PatrickAnthonyMusic]

Denis - I don't think Eoghan Rua intends a harsh judgement, in fact he justly praises Muhammad's voice, and signs off with a blessing "Nár lagaí Dia do ghlór!" His point, however, is well made - the singer needs to convey a sense of deep loss, and maybe a slower tempo would help to do so. But Muhammad still does a very fine job... My own favourite version of the song is by Pauline Scanlon, herself a Kerrywoman who can probably see the Hills of Beenatee from her kitchen window, across Dingle Bay. She really "inhabits" the song.

[@moyaholland852]

Beautiful tribute from Mohammed.

[@williebourke3571]

A dammit he has a good voice , If we're to be judgemental Eoin ,Shur who ever came near LUKE kelly , listen to it again like I did , I still think he nailed it good , GO NDEIRI AN bother leat ,agus bi sasta le do shaoil,

[@seanmccann8368]

Maith an fear Muhammad, mo cheol thú.

[@MrTerryStewart]

Well done Muhammad, great rendition. Did it not occur to these folk, that you just might be Irish. I was a close friend of Colm Clifford, who was the son of Sigerson Clifford. Unfortunately Colm passed away in London in the early 90s. I did get to meet his mother and his brother, at the funeral. Keep up you great singing.

[@austinhenry7295]

Well done Muhammad....just discovered your redition of this song. I am an Irishman living in Morocco ..... lots of Mohameds out here ..... just wondering how you got into singing Irish traditional songs.

[@maireid]

An excellent Irish ballad well performed.

[@gordondarker916]

you captured this song well o'hussaine

[@michaelcarroll9820]

I know this song so well and it has been a favourite for more years than I would care to admit. This is undoubtedly the best rendition of it that I have ever heard. Well done!

[@bigfatirisheejit]

Is grá liom an t-amhrán seo. Fair plé go dtí na leads anseo. Ar fheabhas.

[@chantalhill9268]

Hello from across the pond, on that "foreign soil" where my father, who was postman for this wonderful jewel of a town, came for more opportunities for a good life. He is gone now, so this particular song means a lot to me. This is by far, the best rendition I've heard!! Thank you for posting it!! Slainte!

[@electorofsaxony7646]

My great grandfather was postman in the nearby village of Portmagee. A man by the name of Tadhg O'Connell

[@kerryg100]

Lovely I know this song very well you captured the soul and spirit of this .....go raibh maith agat. ..

[@seangrogan560]

Beautiful rendition

[@135789able]

Wow you OWN that song

[@stevebirmingham9650]

man done well proud of you happy to shake your hand well done mo done the song proud

[@noelmcloughney6240]

As Salaam Alikum, Mohammed, beautiful rendition

[@redlion6939]

Great stuff mate. Well done! An-mhaith!

[@OneDawkinsFan]

Well done, Muhammad!

[@luasaigh1]

What a stunning performance of this great song!

[@mariegordon6248]

Salaam Mohammed, do not know where you found this but Greetings. May Allah Bless you and yours

[@TrueBlueEG8]

Tell me, who are you, and where are you from?? You sing this song so well.

[@johnnygooey]

Very very good 👍 my fav version is christy Moore

[@mvcork]

Nice Middle-Eastern inflections on the fiddle..A very charming rendition indeed.😎

[@martinafitzgerald1610]

absolutely brilliant ! kind of haunting........

[@boldbhoy67]

Great! Well done Muhammad, really enjoyed it.

[@williebourke3571]

The man did a fine rendition of that great song Ye 👏👏

[@Lixsna]

It's a remarkable song.

[@HIBERNIAN04]

Brilliant

[@paulmurphy5143]

Great version Muhammad

[@bridiereynolds2553]

Paul Murphy n

[@feargalsammon3699]

Excellent

[@jimmycrowley5703]

Wonderful rendition of a great song

[@zoologist1992]

" great(understatement?)" is an understatement lol.

[@sentimentaloldme]

I love this ballad...

[@waltwitman45]

Irish music with Middle Eastern vocal quarter tones. Not a bad combo.

[@MaryChrisMaryCdiliapo]

•♪✧◦༄◦°˚°◦♡🌷Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ

[@rocker6883]

Great song, great rendition

[@daraghevans7637]

An dheas

[@SonofanEnglishman]

shukran ya Muhammad, the music jameela katheeran, free peoples will control their destinies one day, insha'Allah

[@spr3972]

これを俺の葬式に流してほしい

[@beatricedehodencq9346]

Exellente voix

[@unabrennan8473]

My goodness Eileen.. Well done!.. .. The Boys of Barr na Sráide... Beautiful! Amazing singer!

[@johndanielharold3633]

Irregulars I imagine. Maybe we imagined the whole thing. Maybe food really was scarce during the Great Hunger.

[@martinafitzgerald1610]

Reminds of the old traditional music, beautifully interpretation of this old song. Wonderful to hear

[@DomhnallOSuileabhainPrin-tm1fw]

This is a psyop

[@seanmccabe2218]

.

[@shayobyrne9486]

Muhammad for Úchtarán

[@jabodl1]

2 things people without irish blood should just not do...play gaa or sing irish ballad songs ...

[@williebourke3571]

Gowa that ,The gaa is an open ORGINASATION if there good enough to play they play , no bother no where , and I heard john c reilly singing The wild river in a pub in clare too ,He did a fair owl job on it too ,gave it plenty of socks ,or like hitting a slitter ,drive it to cork , This is a good rendition of the boys of bar na sraide ,and we'll sung , best version is possibly paddy reilly , mainly because of his voice ,but I'd put this man's voice before christy Moore ,s

[@nozecone]

1 thing bigots should just not do...post comments on youtube ...

[@jabodl1]

Sure ye are obviously 2nd generation and never felt sovereignty...fuck you ye west brits. My family suffered not yours...good man mo but ....

[@jamsodonnelljamsodonnell7342]

Amadán

[@jackieboyce4932]

One of the best versions I have ever heard and I have heard more singing than you have watched GAA games. you BIGOT!

[@RebelofIreland]

Nice job brother.