CCXXVIII.
Reading edition
HOW LANG AND DREARY IS THE NIGHT.
Tune—“Cauld Kail in Aberdeen.”
[On comparing this lyric, corrected for Thomson, with that in the Museum, it will be seen that the former has more of elegance and order: the latter quite as much nature and truth: but there is less of the new than of the old in both.]
I.
How lang and dreary is the night, When I am frae my dearie; I restless lie frae e’en to morn, Though I were ne’er sae weary. For oh! her lanely nights are lang; And oh! her dreams are eerie; And oh, her widow’d heart is sair, That’s absent frae her dearie.
II.
When I think on the lightsome days I spent wi’ thee my dearie; And now what seas between us roar— How can I be but eerie?
III.
How slow ye move, ye heavy hours; The joyless day how dreary! It was na sae ye glinted by, When I was wi’ my dearie. For oh! her lanely nights are lang; And oh, her dreams are eerie; And oh, her widow’d heart is sair, That’s absent frae her dearie.