Across the dewy morning hills of Eireann Rode Niamh Chinn Oir on a snow-white steed To Oisin fairy poet of the Fianna For she fain would this mortal wed
Come with me to the fairy land of Tir Na Nog For I have long loved you said she And Oisin taken with her beauty He bade farewell to his company
They rode through stormy regions far across the sea To a land where time had ne'er its harvest reaped And for an age there Oisin lived contented Till longing for his comrades made him weep
I cannot help but read these sad dreams in your eyes So you may return to your country And take my blessing with this one command Do not dismount from you fairy steed
But when at last he reached that misty island So strange a sight did meet his puzzled frown For Oisin rode as a giant among the people And nowhere were the Fianna to be found
He learned from a gathering of workers Together straining with a heavy load That centuries before his friends had perished Which painful tidings filled him with despair
As payment for the news that we have told you Pray help us with this heavy stone to move For if your strength should match your mighty stature Scarce more than a touch enough should prove
But the saddle tore as Oisin leaned to help them And sorely he upon the ground was thrown He quickly turned into an aged man And ne'er again set eyes on Tir Na Nog.