"Slieve Na mBan" lyrics

Alone all alone by the wave-washed strand
And alone in a crowded hall
The hall it is gay and the waves they are grand
But my heart is not here at all

It flies far away by night and by day
To the times and the joys that are gone
But I never will forget the sweet maiden I met
In the valley near Slieve na mBan

Oh, it was not the grace of her queenly air
Nor her cheeks of the roses glow
Or her soft black eyes or her flowing hair
Nor was it her lily-white brow

'Twas the soul of truth and of melting ruth
And the smile like a summer's dawn
That stole my heart away one soft summer's day
In the valley near Slieve na mBan

In the festive hall by the star-watched shore
Oh, ever my restless spirit cries
My love, oh my love, will I ne'er see you more
And my land, will you never uprise

By night and by day I ever, ever prayed
While lonely my life flows on
To see our flag unrolled and my true love to enfold
In the valley near Slieve na mBan
In the valley near Slieve na mBan