The licht nichts

Ye've left the sun an the canle-licht an the starlicht

The woods baith green an sere,

And yet I hear ye singin doon the braes

I' the licht nichts o the year.

Ye were sae glad; ye were ae sae like the laverock

Wha's hert is i the lift

Nae mair for ye the young green leaves will dance

Nor yet the auld anes drift.

What thocht had you o the ill-faured dairk o winter

But the ingle-nooks o hame?

Love lit yer way an played aboot yer feet

Year in, year oot, the same.

And noo my best, my bonniest and my dearest,

I'll lay ma hert tae sleep

And let the warld, that has nae soonds for me,

Its watch o silence keep.

But, whiles an whiles, i the canle-licht an the starlicht

I'll wauken it to hear

The liltin voice that's singin doon the braes

I' the licht nichts o the year.