Tommy Sands Folk Song Lyrics And Chords
Tommy Sands, Co Down's singer, songwriter and social activist has achieved something akin to legendary status in his own lifetime.
From the pioneering days with the highly influential Sands Family, bringing Irish Music from New York's Carnegie Hall to Moscow's Olympic Stadium, he has developed into one of the most powerful songwriters and enchanting solo performers in Ireland today.
His songwriting, which draws the admiration of Nobel Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney and father of folk music Pete Seeger, prompts respected US magazine "Sing Out" to regard him as "the most powerful songwriter in Ireland, if not the rest of the world".
His songs, like There were Roses [ lyrics ], and Daughters and Sons, which have been recorded by Joan Baez, Kathy Matthea, Dolores Keane, Sean Keane, Frank Patterson, Dick Gaughan, The Dubliners and many others have been translated into many languages and are currently included in the English language syllabus in German secondary schools.
Although constantly performing on stages all around the world he prides in taking his music down from the lights and into the darker corners of society. One of his current projects, teaching underprivileged prisoners in Reno, Nevada to write their own song with which to defend themselves in court is currently creating a wide spread stir in the world of community art in the United States. Back home in Northern Ireland he has just completed a CD written with Protestant and Catholic schoolchildren about their own areas, in towns and villages around Northern Ireland. During the Good Friday Agreement Talks, his impromptu performance with a group of children and Lambeg drummers was described by Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon as "a defining moment in the Peace Process".
From the pioneering days with the highly influential Sands Family, bringing Irish Music from New York's Carnegie Hall to Moscow's Olympic Stadium, he has developed into one of the most powerful songwriters and enchanting solo performers in Ireland today.
His songwriting, which draws the admiration of Nobel Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney and father of folk music Pete Seeger, prompts respected US magazine "Sing Out" to regard him as "the most powerful songwriter in Ireland, if not the rest of the world".
His songs, like There were Roses [ lyrics ], and Daughters and Sons, which have been recorded by Joan Baez, Kathy Matthea, Dolores Keane, Sean Keane, Frank Patterson, Dick Gaughan, The Dubliners and many others have been translated into many languages and are currently included in the English language syllabus in German secondary schools.
Although constantly performing on stages all around the world he prides in taking his music down from the lights and into the darker corners of society. One of his current projects, teaching underprivileged prisoners in Reno, Nevada to write their own song with which to defend themselves in court is currently creating a wide spread stir in the world of community art in the United States. Back home in Northern Ireland he has just completed a CD written with Protestant and Catholic schoolchildren about their own areas, in towns and villages around Northern Ireland. During the Good Friday Agreement Talks, his impromptu performance with a group of children and Lambeg drummers was described by Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon as "a defining moment in the Peace Process".
Tommy Sands Songs
ommy Sands is an iconic Irish folk singer, songwriter, and peace activist from County Down, Northern Ireland. Known for his deeply poetic lyrics and activism, Sands has used his music to promote peace, unity, and understanding throughout Ireland’s turbulent history.
Early Life and Musical CareerBorn in Mayobridge, County Down, Tommy Sands grew up in a musical family and was exposed to traditional Irish music from a young age. He first rose to fame with The Sands Family, a folk group he formed with his siblings, who became well-known in Ireland and beyond during the folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s.
Key Themes and ActivismTommy Sands is widely admired for using his platform to bridge divides between communities during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. His music often carries themes of reconciliation, human rights, and compassion.
One of his best-known songs, "There Were Roses," is a poignant ballad that tells the story of two friends—one Catholic and one Protestant—who are tragically caught in the violence of the time. The song became an anthem for peace and has been covered by numerous artists.
Notable Albums and Songs
Early Life and Musical CareerBorn in Mayobridge, County Down, Tommy Sands grew up in a musical family and was exposed to traditional Irish music from a young age. He first rose to fame with The Sands Family, a folk group he formed with his siblings, who became well-known in Ireland and beyond during the folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s.
Key Themes and ActivismTommy Sands is widely admired for using his platform to bridge divides between communities during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. His music often carries themes of reconciliation, human rights, and compassion.
One of his best-known songs, "There Were Roses," is a poignant ballad that tells the story of two friends—one Catholic and one Protestant—who are tragically caught in the violence of the time. The song became an anthem for peace and has been covered by numerous artists.
Notable Albums and Songs
- "The Music of Healing" (with Pete Seeger): A song that emphasizes the healing power of music.
- "Let the Circle Be Wide": A hopeful and inclusive anthem celebrating unity and togetherness.
- "When the Boys Come Rolling Home": A nostalgic look at Irish emigration and the longing for home.
