I'm trying to find a Scottish farewell of about 6-8 lines. It is probably well known and very meaningful. It is more than just a good-bye, maybe a real farewell to this life for the nonce but life and love remain-I'm just guessing.
It's not the Gaelic Blessing, is it?
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind always be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
I don't know if this is it or not. I'll have to ask my friend who mentioned it. Are there any others that anybody knows of?
Try this one too- could it be part of this song?
pam
TEN THOUSAND MILES from Digitrad
O fare you well, my own true love,
So fare you well for a while
I'm going away, but I'm coming back
If I go ten thousand miles
If I prove false to you, my love
The earth may melt and burn
The sea may freeze and the earth may burn
If I no more return
Ten thousand miles, my own true love
Ten thousand miles or more
The rocks may melt and the seas may burn
If I no more return
And who will shoe your pretty feet
Or who will glove your hand
Or who will kiss your red rosy cheek
When I'm in the foreign land
My father will shoe my pretty little feet
My mother will glove my hand
And you can kiss my red, rosy cheek
When you return again
O don't you see yon little turtle dove
A-skipping from vine to vine
A-mourning the loss of her own true love
Just as I mourn for mine
Don't you see yon pretty little girl
A-spinning on yonder wheel
Ten thousand gay gold guineas would I give
To feel just like she feels
"... and may you be in Heaven half an hour before the Devil knows you're dead."
The song Ten Thousand Miles was collected by the rural English poet John Clare as A Fine Old Ballad. In Scotland, it was the source of Robert Burns poem A Red, Red Rose. Apparently, the verses were originally written by a Lieutenant Hinches as a farewell to his sweetheart. Burns was also influenced by another song he found in an old anthology published in 1770 under the title "The Loyal Lover's Farewell to his Sweetheart on Going on a Long Journey."
Ten Thousand Miles travelled to America and can be found as A-Roving on a Winter's Night. Doc Watson's words can also be found on the Digital Tradition. Peter Bellamy's performance of it would be one of my Desert Island Discs.
Wonderful to know, thank you.
Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate it!
I'll bet Robert Burns wrote just what you are looking for. best dlc