Tommy Makem pictures Ireland as a fine old woman with one of her jewels (provinces) in bondage..

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The old woman in the song is Ireland, and her four sons are the Four Provinces: Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught.
The third verse speaks of the six counties of Ulster partitioned by the British in 1922 and to the present day held under British misrule.

Sung here exceptionally by Drew Bennie of Ashling Ah'lyn on WVUD radio Newark, Delaware.. Ashling Ah'lyn 5/11/07 Drew Bennie: vocals, percussion, guitar;
Dorothy Sherman: vocals, flute; Davy Shannon: guitar, vocals; Jimi spicer: bass..

Four Green Fields

"What did I have?", said the fine old woman
"What did I have?", this proud old woman did say
"I had four green fields, each one was a jewel
But strangers came and tried to take them from me
I had fine, strong sons, they fought to save my jewels
They fought and died and that was my grief", said she

"Long time ago", said the fine old woman
"Long time ago", this proud old woman did say
"There was war and death, plundering and pillage
My children starved by mountain, valley and sea
And their wailing cries, they shook the very heavens
My four green fields ran red with their blood", said she

"What have I now?", said the fine old woman
"What have I now?", this proud old woman did say
"I have four green fields, one of them's in bondage
In strangers hands that tried to take it from me
But my sons have sons, as brave as were their fathers
My fourth green field will bloom once again", said she.