As sung by Angelo Branduardi:
I know it will be there, somewhere in the clouds,
will be there that I meet the end my destiny;
I do not hate these people that now I must fight,
and I do not love these people that I must defend;
My country is Kiltartan Cross, my people its peasants,
none of this can make them any more or less happy.
Neither the law nor duty drove me to fight,
it was not the politics nor the applause of the crowd.
I know it will be there, somewhere in the clouds,
will be there that I meet end my destiny;
A impulse of joy it was, a lonely impulse
that drove me one day to this tumult in the clouds;
in my mind I calculated everything, considered everything,
and the years to come seemed to me a waste of breath,
a waste of breath the years that have passed
in comparison to this life, to this death.
Original poem by W. B. Yeats
I KNOW that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross, 5
My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public man, nor cheering crowds, 10
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind 15
In balance with this life, this death.