Few artists channel the passion, history, and soul of Irish and Scottish folk music quite like Robin James Hurt. With the release of his new single “Take Me Home” on March 14, 2025—perfectly timed for St. Patrick’s week—Hurt delivers a thunderous, heartfelt tribute to the timeless theme of emigration and the yearning for return. It’s a track that roars with defiance, aches with nostalgia, and pulses with the kind of authenticity only a true troubadour can summon.
Born in Belfast, raised in Scotland, and now firmly rooted in the hills of Wexford, Robin James Hurt has long been a name synonymous with masterful musicianship and rousing storytelling. Over the years, he has graced stages alongside icons like Ronnie Drew, Sinéad O’Connor, Finbar Furey, Camille O’Sullivan, and Linda Coogan Byrne. But “Take Me Home” marks the beginning of a new creative chapter—one that’s both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Lyrically penned by Dublin’s own Tony Floyd Kenna and set to music by Hurt himself, “Take Me Home” is the pair’s first co-written piece—and the song that sparked an entire album’s worth of collaboration. The track was born during the winter lockdown of 2020, as the world felt suspended in isolation. For Robin and Tony, it became a way to escape the stillness and imagine the powerful pull of returning to the place where everything began. As Robin puts it, “It was written in the winter of 2020, as an escape from a strange, locked down world. Then later recorded in winter 2024 at The Flux Capacitor, Kilmichael, Co. Wexford.”
The song opens with Hurt’s signature blend of acoustic textures—an emotive mandolin, rich rhythm guitar, and a low hum of bass that builds into something wild and unstoppable. Joined by Ian McTigue on drums and Gosia Gasior on fiddle and backing vocals, the sound is earthy, fierce, and infectiously alive. As Hurt’s voice breaks through with raw conviction, you’re instantly transported into the story of a soul calling back to their homeland—not for glory or comfort, but for peace. There’s a gruff elegance in Hurt’s delivery, a worn honesty that makes every lyric hit like a heartbeat echoing down an old country lane.
Thematically, “Take Me Home” taps into something ancient and modern all at once. It speaks to the Irish diaspora, scattered across the globe but tethered to home by memory, blood, and bone. But more than that, it speaks to anyone who has ever longed for a place that shaped them. A place they ran from. A place they yearn to return to—if only to rest their feet on familiar ground once more. It’s the kind of sentiment that cuts through borders and generations.
Beyond the single, 2025 promises to be a milestone year for Robin James Hurt. His upcoming album A Song, A Story Told will showcase the full breadth of his songwriting partnership with Kenna—an album born not just from creativity, but from friendship, resilience, and the search for meaning in troubled times. The energy captured in “Take Me Home” is just the spark; what follows is sure to be an unforgettable fire.
Live, Robin remains a force to be reckoned with. His upcoming shows across Ireland—at venues like Boyle’s in Slane, Toss Byrne’s in Gorey, and the Four Provinces in Dublin—promise nights of grit, grace, and musical catharsis. Whether he’s playing a raucous pub gig or captivating a summer folk festival crowd, Hurt brings the same unmatched fervor to every performance.
“Take Me Home” is more than just a single. It’s a declaration. It’s a musical bridge between past and present, between heartbreak and hope. With this release, Robin James Hurt doesn’t just remind us where he’s been—he takes us there, one soaring note at a time. And we follow, hearts wide open.
