When I've done my work of day, And I row my boat away, Doon the waters of Loch Tay, When the evening light is falling And I look towards Ben Lawers Where the after glory glows; And I dream on two bright eyes With the merry mouth below.
She's my beauteous nighean ruadh, She's my joy and sorrow too; And although she is untrue, Well I cannot live without her, For my heart's a boat in tow, And I'd give the world to know Why she means to let me go, As I sing horee horo.
Nighean ruadh, your lovely hair Has more glamour I declare Than all the tresses rare 'tween Killin and Aberfeldy. Be they lint white, brown or gold, Be they blacker than the sloe, They are worth no more to me Than the melting flake of snow.
Her eyes are like the gleam O' the sunlight on the stream; And the songs the fairies sing Seem like songs she sings at milking. But my heart is full of woe, For last night she bade me go And the tears begin to flow, As I sing horee, horo.
She's my beauteous nighean ruadh, She's my joy and sorrow too And although she is untrue, Well I cannot live without her. For my heart's a boat in tow And I'd give the world to know, Why she means to let me go As I sing horee horo.