Ulster Smiles

Story Behind The Song

Born and raised in Northern Ireland,I emigrated to N.America in the early 1990's and spent many years avoiding news of the so-called 'troubles'. One evening while watching a Rick Steve's TV program on Ireland, the most well-balanced and even-handed ever, I noticed a change: the black and gray, and somewhat downtrodden scenes in my memory had been transformed into bright sunshine, and smiles on the faces of everyone on the screen. A huge weight had been lifted, I was witnessing the results of many years of peacemaking and finally optimism and a population looking forward rather than back.

Song Description

We were all affected in some way by the conflict. Our family was lucky, yet the "troubles" were always there, always in the background, sometimes in the foreground. Like people during the London Blitz we got used to it, we lived with it and unfortunately it became normal to live in extremely abnormal circumstances. This TRILOGY takes the listener on a journey and gives N. Americans in particular an insight into how civil unrest in N. Ireland affected ordinary people. It also a song of hope and reconciliation.

Song Length 10:25 Genre Folk - Contemporary, World - Celtic
Tempo Medium Slow (91 - 110) Lead Vocal Male Vocal
Similar Artists Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne Language English
Lyrics Eugene Rea Music Eugene Rea
Producer Eugene Rea Publisher Sea Music
Performance Vocals, guitars, bass, guitar synth and Tim whistle - Eugene Rea Label Sea Music

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