Theme from Harry's Game

Last updated

"Theme from Harry's Game"
Clannadtheme.jpg
Original 7" cover
Single by Clannad
from the album Magical Ring
Language Irish
Written1982
ReleasedOctober 1982
Studio Windmill (Dublin)
Genre
Length2:30
Label RCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Richard Dodd
Clannad singles chronology
"Strayed Away"
(1981)
"Theme from Harry's Game"
(1982)
"I See Red"
(1982)
Audio sample

1989 Theme from Harry's Game / Hourglass AA-side

In 1989, as part of the promotion for their compilation Pastpresent, Clannad re-released the "Theme from Harry's Game" as an AA-side single with their new song "Hourglass."

1992 Patriot Games re-release

The song was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin. Windmill Lane Studio.jpg
The song was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin.

In 1992, the "Theme from Harry's Game" was used in the soundtrack to the film Patriot Games, and it was also re-released as a single. There were two versions of the CD single, a two-track and a four-track version, both with the same cover and catalogue number.

Track listing

7" single, cassette, 5" compact disc

  1. "Theme from Harry's Game"
  2. "Robin (The Hooded Man)"

5" compact disc

  1. "Theme from Harry's Game"
  2. "Robin (The Hooded Man)"
  3. "In a Lifetime"
  4. "Closer to your Heart"

1993 Jameson Whiskey re-release

In 1993, in connection with an advertising campaign for Jameson Whiskey, both "Theme from Harry's Game" and "In A Lifetime" were re-released in The Netherlands.

Track listing

  1. "Theme from Harry's Game"
  2. "Caisleán Óir"

Cover versions and other use

The song has been covered by artists including Phil Coulter [24] and Celtic Woman. [25] The Irish rock band U2 also used the song as their outro during the War Tour, and it can be heard as such at the beginning and end of their live film U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky . [14] [26] It has also been used extensively by the RAF for the decommissioning flypasts of the Avro Vulcan Delta wing bomber, and subsequently in memorial flights at airshows. [27]

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 The song is credited solely to Paul Brennan (Pól Ó Braonáin) in the liner notes of various recordings from 1982 to 1995, [3] and to Paul and Ciarán in liner notes from 2003 and later. [4] According to Moya Brennan, it was written "mainly" by Paul and Ciarán, with some input from her. [1] [5]
  2. The original is: [6]

    Imeoidh an seanfhear atá cráite liath,
    Imeoidh an fhuiseog is áilne ar an gcraoibh,
    Imeoidh an duine óg is a cháil ina dhiaidh
    Imeoidh a dtiocfaidh is a dtáinig ariamh.

    A literal translation to English is:

    The old man, grey with torment, will go,
    The most beautiful skylark on the branch will go,
    The young man will go, and his reputation will follow him,
    All that ever will come and has come will go.

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References

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