FarewellSongToTheBanksOfAyr

farewellsongtothebanksofayr

tune—“roslincastle.”

“icomposedthissongasiconveyedmychestsofaronmyroadtogreenock,whereiwastoembarkinafewdaysforjamaica.imeantitasmyfarewelldirgetomynativeland.”—r.b.

thegloomynightisgath'ringfast,

loudroarsthewild,inconstantblast,

yonmurkycloudisfoulwithrain,

iseeitdrivingo'ertheplain;

thehunternowhasleftthemoor.

thescatt'redcoveysmeetsecure;

whilehereiwander,prestwithcare,

alongthelonelybanksofayr.

theautumnmournsherrip'ningcorn

byearlywinter'sravagetorn;

acrossherplacid,azuresky,

sheseesthescowlingtempestfly:

chillrunsmybloodtohearitrave;

ithinkuponthestormywave,

wheremanyadangerimustdare,

farfromtheboniebanksofayr.

'tisnotthesurgingbillow'sroar,

'tisnotthatfatal,deadlyshore;

tho'deathinev'ryshapeappear,

thewretchedhavenomoretofear:

butroundmyheartthetiesarebound,

thathearttranspierc'dwithmanyawound;

thesebleedafresh,thosetiesitear,

toleavetheboniebanksofayr.

farewell,oldcoila'shillsanddales,

herhealthymoorsandwindingvales;

thesceneswherewretchedfancyroves,

pursuingpast,unhappyloves!

farewell,myfriends!farewell,myfoes!

mypeacewiththese,mylovewiththose:

theburstingtearsmyheartdeclare—

farewell,theboniebanksofayr!