Last night as I lay dreamin' of pleasant days gone by
Me mind bein' bent on rambling, to Ireland I did fly
I stepped on board a vision and I followed with the wind
Till first I came to anchor at the cross at Spancil Hill

It being the 23rd of June, the day before the fair
Where Ireland's sons and daughters and friends assembled there
The young, the old, the brave and the bold came their duty to fulfill
At the parish church near Clooney, a mile from Spancil Hill

I went to see my neighbours to see what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone, the young ones turning grey
I met the tailor Quigley, he's as bold as ever still
He used to mend my britches when I lived in Spancil Hill

I took a flying visit to my one and only love
She's as white as any lily, as gentle as a dove
She threw her arms around me, saying "Johnny, I love you still"
She is Nell, the farmer's daughter, the pride of Spancil Hill

I dreamt I held and kissed her as in the days of old
Saying, "Johnny, you're only joking, as many's the time before"
But the cock, he crew in the morning, he crew both loud and shrill
I awoke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill