Found at China to Galway, an Andy Irvine fan web site:

AUTUMN GOLD
Andy Irvine

My mood is clothed in autumn's shades.
My summer sun begins to fade,
Fading away with the waning year,
Changing my tempo now autumn is here.

Time to leave my friends behind
I leave this town with you on my mind.
The dead leaves are burning. The year is decaying,
Winter returning, no use in delaying.

One week ago we walked by here.
I never dreamed life's death was so near.
We laughed and played the summer through.
The sun is going and I must go too.

Autumn gold, the winter snow,
There's some goes north but it's north I must go,
Leaving this town and the friends that I know.
It's late in the year. There'll be ice and snow.

When the sun returns, I'll come back too.
I'll write a song and I'll sing it for you.