I heard a curlew crying long
On a moor where wild winds blew
And the sound of his sad lonesome song
Made me feel lonesome too

Oh...

Cold winter came and the moorland froze
The winds howled long and long
And often echoed through the snows
I heard that curlew's song

Oh...

Sweet sun-warmed summer came along
From greenleafed days of spring
I soon forgot the lonesome song
I heard the curlew sing

Oh...