When I've done my work of day
And I row my boat away
Down the waters of Loch Tay
As the evening light is fading
And I look onto Ben Lawers
Where the after glory glows
And I think onto bright eyes
And the melting mouth below
She's my beauteous nighean ruach
My joy and sorrow too
And, although she is untrue
No, 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 "ho-ree ho-ro"
♪
Nighean ruach, 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
Of the sunlight on the stream
And the songs the faeries sing
Seem like songs she sings at milking
My heart is full of woe
For last night she bade me go
And the tears begin to flow
As I sing "ho-ree ho-ro"
As I sing "ho-ree ho-ro"