Henry's Songbook

The year is wearing to the wane
And day is fading west awa'
Loud raves the torrent and the rain
And dark the cloud comes down the shaw
But let the tempest tout and blaw
Upon his loudest winter's horn
Good night, and joy be wi' you a'
We'll maybe meet again the morn

O we hae wandered far and wide
O'er Scotia's hills, o'er firth and fell
And mony a simple flower we've culled
And trimmed them wi' the heather-bell
We've ranged the dingle and the dell
The hamlet and the baron's ha'
Now let us take a kind farewell
Good night, and joy be wi' you a'

Though I was wayward, you were kind
And sorrow'd when I went astray
For O, my strains were often wild
As winds upon a winter's day
If e'er I led you from the way
Forgi'e your Minstrel aince for a'
A tear fa's wi' his parting lay
Good night, and joy be wi' you a'

(as sung by The McCalmans)

[1970:] Born in Ettrick Forest, [James Hogg (1770-1835)] spent his early days as a shepherd, but he was discovered by Scott while collecting material for his 'Border Minstrelsy', and taken under that ample wing. He had almost no formal education, [...] but he soon became famous among the famous of his time - helped by his magnificent personality. He farmed most of his life and left a variety of notable works [...]. (Penguin Book of Scottish Verse 15f)