Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A'
Scottish Song By Sir Alex Boswell
Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A' (also known as The Old Chef-tain To His Sons) is a song written by Sir Alexander Boswell (1775-1822) antiquary and poet, eldest son of James Boswell the biographer.The song may be found in The Fourth Volume Of Mr George Thomson's Collection Of Scottish Songs.
Wood's Edition Of The Songs Of Scotland says "These words were written by the late Sir Alexander Boswell, Bart., of Auchinleck, and published by him, anonymously, in a pamphlet containing some others of his songs, at Edinburgh, in 1803."
Related Scottish Country Dances
Goodnight And Joy Be With YouJoy Be Wi' Ye
Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A' By Sir Alex Boswell
Your harmless mirth has cheer'd my heart;
May life's fell blasts out-o'er ye blaw!
In sorrow may ye never part!
My spirit lives, but strength is gone.
The mountain fires now blaze in vain:
Remember, sons, the deeds I've done.
And in your deeds I'll live again!
When on yon muir our gallant clan,
Frae boasting foes their banners tore.
Who show'd himsel a better man.
Or fiercer wav'd the red claymore?
But when in peace - then mark me there,
When thro' the glen the wandei-er came,
I gave him of our hardy fare,
I gave him here a welcome hame.
The auld will speak, the young maun hear.
Be canty, but be good and leal;
Your ain ills ay hae heart to bear,
Anither's ay hae heart to feel;
So, ere I set, I'll see you shine,
I'll see you triumph ere I fa';
My parting breath shall boast you mine.
Good night, and joy be wi' ye a'.
Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A' Song Video
Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A' Song - Information Video
Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A', From Glen Collection Of Printed Music, Wood's Edition Of The Songs Of Scotland, Page 240, c. 1857
Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A' article on Digital National Library Of Scotland.
Image copyright (cropped) https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/87801765 under this Creative Commons Licence 4.0.
Back to the top of this 'Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A' Song' page