I wrote this tune after reading about the many Irish young men who fought in the American civil war. For some of those who fought, it was a way to become accepted in their new homeland, for others it was a place to train and garner support for the struggle back home in Ireland. The ferocity and length of the war was seriously underestimated, and since the Irish were frequently used on the front lines of both armies, they faced the prospect of fighting fellow Irishmen in a war that was not theirs. Some tried to leave and return to Ireland, but were caught and charged with desertion. In America the punishment was to have the letter D branded on the soldier’s forehead. For American deserters this meant lifelong shame, but for the Irish it meant instant and permanent exile from Ireland – if they had returned to Ireland, they would have been arrested immediately and charged with treason; a capital offence.

It can be found on my debut album “Ón Dá Thaobh / From Both Sides”.