Love

Good Night, and Joy

by Robert Tannahill 1774–1810

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, vol. 2 (1855–57)

Love

The weary sun 's gaen down the west,
The birds sit nodding on the tree;
All nature now prepares for rest,
But rest prepared there 's none for me.
The trumpet sounds to war's alarms,
The drums they beat, the fifes they play,--
Come, Mary, cheer me wi' thy charms,
For the morn I will be far away.

Good night, and joy--good night, and joy,
Good night, and joy be wi' you a';
For since its so that I must go,
Good night, and joy be wi' you a'!

I grieve to leave my comrades dear,
I mourn to leave my native shore;
To leave my aged parents here,
And the bonnie lass whom I adore.
But tender thoughts maun now be hush'd,
When danger calls I must obey.
The transport waits us on the coast,
And the morn I will be far away.
Good night, and joy, &c.

Adieu, dear Scotia's sea-beat coast!
Though bleak and drear thy mountains be,
When on the heaving ocean tost,
I 'll cast a wishful look to thee!
And now, dear Mary, fare thee well,
May Providence thy guardian be!
Or in the camp, or on the field,
I 'll heave a sigh, and think on thee!
Good night, and joy, &c.

MLA

Tannahill, Robert. “Good Night, and Joy.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tannahill/15/.

Chicago

Tannahill, Robert. “Good Night, and Joy.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tannahill/15/.

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