The cold winds from the mountains are calling soft to me
The smell of scented heather brings bitter memories
A wild and lonely eagle up in the summer sky
Flies high o'er Shanagolden, where my love Willie lies

I met him in the winter time when snow was on the ground
The Irish hills were peaceful and love was all around
Scarcely twenty years old, a young man in his prime
We were married, darling Willie by the eve of Christmas time

Do you remember darling, we walked the moonlit road
I held you in my arms, love, I would never let you go
Our hands they were entwined, my love, all in the pale moonlight
By the fields of Shanagolden on a lonely winter's night

Then came the call to arms, love, the heather was aflame
Down from the silent mountains, the Saxon strangers came
I held you in my arms then, my young heart wild with fear
In the fields by Shanagolden, in the springtime of the year

You fought them, darling Willie, all through the summer days
I heard the rifles firing in the mountains far away
I held you in my arms then, your blood ran free and bright
And you died in Shanagolden, on a lonely summer's night

But that was long ago, love, now our son grows fine and tall
The hills they are at peace again: the Saxon strangers gone
There's roses growing on your grave, there's an eagle in the sky
Flying high o'er Shanagolden, where my love Willie lies