> Folk Music > Songs > ’Neath the Gloamin’ Star at E’en

’Neath the Gloamin’ Star at E’en

[ Roud 5569 ; G/D 4:880 ; Ballad Index Ord066 ; trad.]

Tony Cuffe sang the Aberdeenshire love song ’Neath the Gloamin’ Star at E’en on Ossian’s 1984 album Borders. They noted:

From Ord’s Bothy Songs and Ballads. The gloamin’ star is the first star seen in the evening sky.

Hannah Rarity learned ’Neath the Gloamin’ Star at E’en from the singing of Tony Cuffe and Ossian. She sang it in 2018 as the title track of her CD Neath the Gloaming Star.

Lyrics

Hannah Rarity sings ’Neath the Gloamin’ Star at E’en

Since e’er I was a laddie an toilin’ at the ploo
I hae wrestled sair wae fortune this weary world through,
But what lightens a’ ma toil is that happy ’oor at e’en,
When I meet ma bonnie lassie ’neath the gloamin’ star at e’en

Chorus (after each verse):
’Neath the gloamin’ star at e’en,
’Neath the gloamin’ star at e’en,
When I meet ma bonnie lassie
’Neath the gloamin’ star at e’en

Awa’ ye haughty nobles wha deem such pleasures sma’,
There’s joy that never enters yer lordly hame nor ha’,
For the joy o’ joys tae me is that happy ’oor at e’en,
When I meet ma bonnie lassie ’neath the gloamin’ star at e’en

Why should I seek for riches when toilin’ at the ploo?
There’s flooers intae the peasant’s path a King might stoop to pull,
For yonder comes ma lassie in beauty like a Queen,
An’ I’ll clasp her tae ma bosom ’neath the gloamin’ star at e’en