Carolina, Lady Nairne (1766–1845)

THE BEST o’ joys maun ha’e 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’.

O we hae wandered far and wide,

O’er Scotia’s lands o’ firth 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 wae;

The voice of song maun cease at last,

And minstrelsy itsel’ decay.

But, oh! whare sorrow canna win,

Nor parting tears are shed ava,

May we meet neighbour, kith and kin,

And joy for aye be wi’ us a’!