The Wind That Shakes the Barley

I sat within a valley green

I sat me with my true love

My sad heart strove to choose between

The old love and the new love

The old for her, the new that made

Me think on Ireland dearly

While soft the wind blew down the glade

And shook the golden barley

Twas 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 join the bold United Men

While soft winds shake the barley

While sad I kissed away her tears

My fond arms 'round her flinging

The foeman's shot burst on our ears

From out the wildwood 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 winds shook the barley

I bore her to some mountain stream

And many's the summer blossom

I placed with branches soft and green

About her gore-stained bosom

I wept and kissed her clay-cold corpse

Then rushed o'er vale and valley

My vengeance on the foe to wreak

While soft winds shook the barley

But blood for blood without remorse

I've taken at Oulart Hollow

And laid my true love's clay-cold corpse

Where I full soon may follow

As 'round her grave I wander drear

Noon, night and morning early

With breaking heart when e'er I hear

The wind that shakes the barley

-Robert Dwyer Joyce


I think this beautiful ballad can speak to anyone, you merely have to replace Ireland with your nation of choice.  While there are many elements that I don't necessarily agree to — for instance, violence as a recourse and favoring patriotism over unity of mankind, etc.  I still think there is a nobility in this passionate, heart-wrenching ballad.  I believe there is a sense melancholic nobility when man fights for a cause with all his heart, even if it may not be the wisest choice.

Sung by Dick Gaughan:


What is it though about this pastoral notion of 'homeland' that is universally accepted?  My parents hearken back to the charmed days in their homeland but then are disappointed when they return.  This yearning for a place to call home, I think may be predisposed in all mankind as we are all aching to return to Eden.


The female interpretation (sung by Dead Can Dance):