Where Sleepest Thou, My Dearie

1. O, where are thou, my love, tonight,
Where sleepest thou my dearie?
Where e'er thou art, my lady bright
O would that I were near thee.

2. My ship is floating on the tide,
And prosperous winds are blowing,
If thou wert only by my side
My tears would not be flowing.

3. I long have braved the stormy sea,
To distant lands oft sailing,
No maiden have I seen like thee,
Thine absence I'm bewailing.

4. How fair thy locks are to behold,
When in the sunbeams shining,
In colour they will vie with gold
That oft has stood refining.

4. In song or dance I take no part,
And music cannot cheer me,
Nor maiden's smile can raise my heart
Since absent from my dearie.

5. If like the swan I now could sail
Across the trackless ocean,
Ere break of day my love I'd hail
And prove my heart's devotion.

6. My sails are set; blow, breezes blow!
All thoughts of danger scorning,
Where dwells my love I'll quickly go
And wed her in the morning.


This Scottish song is found in "The Celtic Lyre: A Collection of Gaelic Songs, with English Translations."  It's from 1891 and the editor is listed as Fionn.