☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics are about longing and homesickness for Carrickfergus.
- The singer wishes to be with a particular person in Carrickfergus and would even swim across the ocean to do so.
- The lyrics evoke memories of the singer's childhood and happier times as they wander aimlessly.
- There is also mention of Kilkenny, where the singer used to support their beloved, but is now drunk and sick.
- The song lyrics show the transience of life and the emotional depth of the singer.
Interpretation
In the lyrics of the song "Carrickfergus (with the Chieftains)" by
Van Morrison, it is about longing and homesickness. The singer wishes to be with a certain person in Carrickfergus. He would even swim across the deepest ocean to be with her. Unfortunately, the sea is too far and he cannot swim and does not have wings to fly. He longs for a boatman to take him to his love, even if it means dying.
The lyrics of the song evoke the singer's childhood and happy times that are long gone. His friends from youth and his relatives have all passed away. He spends his days wandering aimlessly, but he yearns to be home in Carrickfergus, on the long road down to the salty sea.
The lyrics also contain a passage about Kilkenny, where the singer recounts that he used to support his beloved with gold and silver. But now he doesn't want to sing until he gets something to drink. He is drunk and rarely sober, an attractive vagabond who moves from town to town. But he is sick and his days are numbered. He asks the young men to lay him down.
The lyrics of the song show the longing for belonging, the desire to return home, and the transience of life. They express the emotional depth and melancholy of the singer.