Shanagolden Lyrics
Liz MaddenMusic Video
Shanagolden
The cold winds from the mountain 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 young 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 one years, a young man in his prime.
We were married, darling Willie by the eve of Christmas time.
Do you remember darlin', when we walked the moonlit road
I held you in my arms, love, I would never let you go.
Our hands they were entwined love, all in the pale moonlight,
By the fields of Shanagolden on a lonely winter's night.
Then came the call to arms dear, and the hills they were aflame.
Down from the silent mountains, the Saxon strangers came.
I held you in my arms love, my young heart wild with fear,
By 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 love, your blood ran free and bright,
And you died in Shanagolden, on a lonely summer's night.
Oh but that was long ago dear, and your son grows fine and tall;
The hills they are at peace again: the Saxon strangers gone.
We'll place the red rose on your grave, by the silvery pale moonlight,
And we'll dream of Shanagolden, on a lonely winter's night.
Song Details
🎶 Songwriter: Seán McCarthy (1923–1990) - Irish songwriter from Finuge, County Kerry, Ireland. He was one of 10 children who penned some of Irelands favourite ballads including, Step It Out Mary, Red Haired Mary and In Shame Love, In Shame.
The song shares the same tune as:- I Gave My Love A Cherry
- The Twelfth of Never
📝 Song Brief: A poignant Irish ballad told from the perspective of a woman mourning her beloved Willie. Their love blossomed in peaceful winter days, but the arrival of British forces — the “Saxon strangers” — brought fear, conflict, and tragedy. Willie joins the fight for Irish freedom and dies in the hills near Shanagolden. Years later, the narrator and their grown son return to his grave, finding solace in the peace that has finally come to the land.
The following is a comment by John O'Connor from a YouTube entry in relation to the song:I always think that this song is one that should be preserved and sung because it is about our freedom... This song is about the time when our country was overrun by Black-and-Tans.📖 Glossary:
- Shanagolden — a small village located in County Limerick, Ireland.
- Saxon — A term traditionally used in Ireland to refer to an English person or someone of English descent, especially in contrast to people of Celtic heritage. In historical and folk‑song contexts, it often carries associations with British rule in Ireland.
- Black and Tans
The Black and Tans which was officially called the Royal Irish Constabulary Special Reserve, was a force of Temporary Constables recruited to assist the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) to maintain control and fight the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Irish War of Independence.
🍀 Genre: Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: Paddy Day, Peggy Sweeney, Margo, Catherine O'Connell, Danny Doyle, Paddy Cullen, Dervish, Pat Connery & Liz O Riordan, Wolf & Clover, Kathy Durkin, Daniel & The O'Keeffe Family, Caroline O'Sullivan, Niamh Dunne, Brendan Grace.
🎤 Featured Artist: Liz Madden - Irish singer, songwriter and classically trained vocalist renowned for her contributions to Celtic and folk music.
💿 Album: My Irish Home
Released: 2010
Country: France
Format: CD, Album
Label: Keltia Musique
