Love

Gude Nicht, and Joy Be wi' Ye A'!

by Carolina Nairne 1766–1845

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, vol. 1 (1855–57)

Love

The best o' joys maun hae an end,
The best o' friends maun part, I trow;
The langest day will wear away,
And I maun bid fareweel to you.
The tear will tell when hearts are fu',
For words, gin they hae sense ava,
They 're broken, faltering, and few:
Gude nicht, and joy be wi' you a'!

Oh, we hae wander'd far and wide,
O'er Scotia's lands o' frith and fell!
And mony a simple flower we 've pu'd,
And twined it wi' the heather-bell.
We 've ranged the dingle and the dell,
The cot-house, and the baron's ha';
Now we maun tak a last farewell:
Gude nicht, and joy be wi' you a'!

My harp, fareweel! thy strains are past,
Of gleefu' mirth, and heartfelt care;
The voice of song maun cease at last,
And minstrelsy itsel' decay.
But, oh! whar sorrow canna win,
Nor parting tears are shed ava',
May we meet neighbour, kith, and kin,
And joy for aye be wi' us a'!

MLA

Nairne, Carolina. “Gude Nicht, and Joy Be wi' Ye A'!” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/nairn/14/.

Chicago

Nairne, Carolina. “Gude Nicht, and Joy Be wi' Ye A'!” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/nairn/14/.

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