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 by land will you never up-rise 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