The Wind that Shakes The Barley I sat down in the valley green I sat me with my true love. My sad heart had to choose between The old love and the new love. The old for her The new that made me think on Ireland dearly. While the soft wind blew down the glen And shook the golden barley. T'was hard the woeful words to frame To break the ties that bound us. But harder still to bear the shame Of foreign chains around us. And so I said the mountain glen I'll seek at morning early. And I'll join the bold united men While soft wind shakes the barley. As sad I kissed away her tears My fond arms 'round her flinging. A foe-man's shot burst on our ears From out the wild wood ringing. A bullet pierced my true love's side In life's young spring so early. And on my breast in blood she died While soft wind shook the barley. But blood for blood without remorse I've taken at oulart hollow. And laid my true love's clay like corpse Where I full soon must follow. Around her grave I've wandered drear Noon, night, and morning early. With breaking heart when e'er I hear The wind that shakes the barley.

© 2005 Jonathan Ramsey Irish Music Productions