The Wind That Shakes the Barley

by Dead Can Dance

From the album: Into the Labyrinth

Track 3 of 11 on Into the Labyrinth (1993).

Duration: 2:51

Into the Labyrinth cover art

Lyrics for The Wind That Shakes the Barley

I sat within the valley green I sat me with my true love. My sad heart strove the two 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 glade 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 meet at morning early. And I'll join the bold united men While soft winds shook the barley. T'was sad I kissed away her tears My fond arm round her flinging. When a foe, man's shot burst on our ears From out the wild woods 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. But blood for blood without remorse I've ta'en at oulart hollow. I've lain 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.

Listen On

More from Into the Labyrinth

  1. Yulunga (Spirit Dance)
  2. The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove
  3. The Wind That Shakes the Barley
  4. The Carnival Is Over
  5. Ariadne
  6. Saldek
  7. Towards the Within
  8. Tell Me About the Forest (You Once Called Home)
  9. The Spider's Stratagem
  10. Emmeleia
  11. How Fortunate the Man With None