In the town of Athlone there's a young woman walking And wrapped 'round her baby a shawl, and she speaks Of the passing of rings to the uniformed soldiers The price of a ribbon their fortune to speak
Well, their fortune she speaks and she speaks of a river Whose silvery barrows and moorlands beneath Where a gun battle raged and the hero for Ireland Would soon lie down dead, dead at her feet
At the feet of the virgin in the grotto of Annah She sings to her baby in old styles bequeath And she lifts and laments and enchants all in hearing With songs of her people and melodies sweet
Chorus: Sweet silvery Nore river is rolling Over an Irish soldier's grave And the vestry bells are tolling Over the ashes of his grave
In the freeborn land of the traveling people Lies Nioclas Mullins, the pride of Cullbawn Yet unmarked beside him the bride of his union Who carried our music in a black gypsy shawl
(Chorus 2x)
Over the ashes of his grave Over the ashes of his grave