Mo Nighean Dubh (My Dark-haired Maiden) (Park, set by P. Grainger) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Mo nighean dubh, the hills are bright,
And on this last and lovely night,
I'd fain frae auld Knockgowan's height
Look owre the glen wi' thee,
Never mair we'll tread its heather,
Never doun the lea
Liltin' will we shear thegither,
Fu' of mirth and glee,
Fortune's blasts o' wintry weather
Drive us owre the sea,
But lang's we're blest wi' ane anither,
Fie! let fears gae flee.
Yet see, my dear, the hills are bright,
And on this last and lovely night,
I'd fain frae auld Knockgowan's height
Look owre the glen wi' thee.

Mo nighean dubh, 'twas there we met,
And o! that hour is precious yet,
When first my honest vow could get
Love's tearfu' smile frae thee,
Hearts were pledged ere either knew it,
What's to be maun be,
Mine was tint ere I could trow o't
Wi' that glancing e'e.
Dear Knockgowan and the view o't
Ne'er again we'll see,
O let me gang and tak' adieu o't,
Laoth ma chree wi' thee,
Mo nighean dubh, 'twas there we met,
And o! that hour is precious yet,
When first my honest vow could get
Love's tearfu' smile frae thee.

Glossary:
Mo nighean dubh = my dark-haired maiden
frae = from
mair = more
liltin' = singing
shear = climb
thegither = together
lang's = as long as
maun = must
tint = lost
Laoth ma chree = a term of endearment

Input by Guy Laffaille

Authorship

John Park

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882-1961)

Date added to the website: 2009-08-25.

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