It is certainly a wonderful piece of writing. I wonder if "Dream of the Rood" played any part in the inspiration for the song? It almost seems to be modern allusions and wording that harkens to some Anglo Saxon ancestors.

The Beowulf-like descriptiveness and resulting foreboding in the first stanza--well, I don't know but would guess the writer of this song's words is very well-read. I wish I knew more about Jimmy McCarthy.