"Homeward Bound" is a famous Irish folk song written in 1961 by Marta Keen, a member of the Irish folk group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. The song tells a tale of an Irish emigrant's longing to return home after many years abroad. The song has been recorded by numerous artists, including Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Andy Williams, The Chieftains, and John Denver.
Keen was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1927. She began singing at a young age and was a member of several folk groups before joining The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in 1956. The group was one of the most popular folk groups in the world during the 1960s and 1970s, and they released numerous albums and toured extensively.
Keen wrote "Homeward Bound" in 1961 while she was on tour in the United States. She was homesick and missing Ireland and wrote the song as a way to express her longing to return home. The song was released on the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem album "In Person at Carnegie Hall" in 1962, and it quickly became a hit. The song has since been covered by numerous other artists and has become one of the most popular and well-known Irish folk songs in the world.
Keen continued to perform with the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem until 1974. She also released several solo albums and toured extensively as a solo artist. She passed away in 2013 at the age of 86.
"Homeward Bound" is one of the most beloved Irish folk songs of all time. Keen's touching and heartfelt lyrics have resonated with generations of Irish emigrants and have helped to give voice to the longing for home that many have felt. The song is a classic example of Irish folk music and a testament to the power of music to connect people and express emotions.