Song Stories: Fontaines DC: Boy's in the Better Land

Fontaines DC very quickly established themselves as one of the most exciting and important voices in modern rock music. Their 2019 debut album, Dogrel, offers raw, poetic reflections on Irish identity, urban life, and existential angst. Among the standout tracks is the raucous, anthemic “Boys in the Better Land,” a song that combines gritty energy with sharp cultural commentary. This track isn’t just a punk rock banger; it’s a complex meditation on identity, nationalism, and belonging.

The song provides the listener with a slice of life in modern Ireland, but the themes addressed can be applied far beyond the emerald Isle. Portraying two polarising characters, that embrace different values and beliefs to the same place. The first character is a taxi drover who is firmly rooted in his sense of belonging and place and offers the listener an unflinching reflection on life.  “If you’re a rock star, porn star, superstar, doesn’t matter what you are / Get yourself a good car, get outta here.”

The second character a foreigner, on the other hand, represents an outsider looking for something in Ireland—perhaps something authentic or grounding that they cannot find elsewhere. Yet, the refrain “Boys in the better land” suggests that the "better land" may be more of a myth, a romanticized version of the place that doesn’t quite exist in reality.

Fontaines D.C. frequently touch on Irish identity in their music, but in “Boys in the Better Land,” they take a unique approach by intertwining national pride with the modern malaise of urban life. The phrase “better land” could be interpreted as a nod to the historical emigration waves from Ireland to places like America, where Irish immigrants sought out a new, supposedly "better" life.

In a similar way to Irish bands before them. The Pogues commented on something similar with their brilliant song "Thousands are Sailing".

The song is both defiant and tragic. The Ireland presented here isn’t one of romantic landscapes and pastoral bliss—it’s a gritty, urban environment where people grapple with the harshness of modern life. Fontaines D.C. challenge the idyllic, postcard image of Ireland, acknowledging the real struggles of everyday existence while also embracing its grit and spirit. This dichotomy makes “Boys in the Better Land” a powerful commentary on modern Irish identity, where tradition meets disillusionment and resilience.

It's a rallying cry for the disenchanted, with a distinct Irish feeling of rebelliousness. In a world where we are all searching for a better life, but also battling with the here and now. Fontaines DC create a compelling moment, that helps offer some answers but also sees the band ask some questions of their own. 

The band address many other questions on their debut. With their hometown of Dublin being the centre of the record. From the opening track, "Big," where Chatten sings, “Dublin in the rain is mine, a pregnant city with a Catholic mind,” it’s clear that this is an album steeped in a deep connection to place. Dublin is as much a character in these songs as the people Chatten sings about. His lyrics explore the contradictions of modern life in the city. In tracks like "Liberty Belle" and "The Lotts," the band reflects on the changes happening in Dublin, from the influx of tourism to the impact of gentrification, and how these changes affect the everyday lives of its residents. The Dublin of Dogrel is not static—it’s a city in flux.

In "Boys in the Better Land," the band takes on the myth of the "better life" often promised by emigration, while tracks like "Dublin City Sky" reflect a more nostalgic, almost mournful view of the city’s changing landscape. Fontaines D.C. manage to express both pride in their Irish heritage and skepticism toward the romanticized versions of it that are often perpetuated.

This record cemented the band as one of the most important British bands of the last 15 years. Creating a timeless yet timely album. The band managed to create one of the best sounding, and beautiful records of recent memory. A raw tale of a city and a generation of people. "Boys in the Better Land" was the song that got many into Fontaines DC and from there fans have been treated to four albums of unbelievable songs.

Thank you for reading x

Jack