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 with for all that he was worth
But reaching the Shangani, Shangani River wide
Sent Wilson and his men to scour over the other side

Up the wild Shangani and down the other side
Up the wild Shangani where Allan Wilson died

Through green Mopane 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 Allan Wilson died
Up the wild Shangani, and down the other side
Up the wild Shangani where Allan Wilson died