Original: The song is dedicated to a Fenian poet named John Boyle O'Reilly , who was deported to Australia because of his poetry From the liner notes on the U2 album '' Rattle and Hum '' .
Simplified: The song remembers a Fenian poet named John Boyle O'Reilly . He was sent to Australia because of his poetry From the liner notes on the U2 album '' Rattle and Hum '' .