His troopers, they were loyal, his troopers, they were young
They'd follow Allan Wilson to the setting of the sun
They were hands from many lands, and many a distant shore
They would follow Wilson, a soldier to the core
Up the wild Shangani, and down the other side
Up the wild Shangani where Allan Wilson died
The Matabele army was running to the North
And Major Forbes would follow it for all that he was worth
But reaching the Shangani, Shangani river wide
Sent Wilson and his men to scout over the other side
Up the wild Shangani, and down the other side
Up the wild Shangani where Allan Wilson died
Through green Mopani forest the Matabele fled,
The Yankee tracker Burnham said 'They can't be far ahead'
But Wilson and his troopers were surrounded in the night
Said Wilson to the volunteers: 'We will stand and fight'
Up the wild Shangani, and down the other side
Up the wild Shangani where Allan Wilson died
With horses in a circle, they sang "God Save the Queen"
And thirty- four young troopers would never more be seen
They killed ten times their number; they're on the honour roll
So take your hat off slowly to the Shangani Patrol
Up the wild Shangani, and down the other side
Up the wild Shangani, where Alan Wilson died.
Up the wild Shangani, and down the other side,
Up the wild Shangani, where Alan Wilson died.