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The gloomy night is gath'ring fast, Loud roars the wild, inconstant blast, Yon murky cloud is foul with rain, I see it driving o'er the plain; The hunter now has left the moor. The scatt'red coveys meet secure; While here I wander, prest with care, Along the lonely banks of Ayr. The Autumn mourns her rip'ning corn By early Winter's ravage torn; Across her placid, azure sky, She sees the scowling tempest fly: Chill runs my blood to hear it rave; I think upon the stormy wave, Where many a danger I must dare, Far from the bonie banks of Ayr. 'Tis not the surging billow's roar, 'Tis not that fatal, deadly shore; Tho' death in ev'ry shape appear, The wretched have no more to fear: But round my heart the ties are bound, That heart transpierc'd with many a wound; These bleed afresh, those ties I tear, To leave the bonie banks of Ayr. Farewell, old Coila's hills and dales, Her healthy moors and winding vales; The scenes where wretched Fancy roves, Pursuing past, unhappy loves! Farewell, my friends! farewell, my foes! My peace with these, my love with those: The bursting tears my heart declare -- Farewell, the bonie banks of Ayr!
About the headline (FAQ)
Tune: "Roslin Castle."Confirmed with Robert Burns, The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1919, page 342, titled "The gloomy night". In some other editions the title is "Farewell to the Banks of Ayr"
Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "The gloomy night", title 2: "Farewell to the Banks of Ayr" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Henry Hugo Pierson (1816 - 1873), as Henry Hugo Pearson, "The Banks of Ayr", published 1842 [ voice and piano ], from 6 Lieder von Freiligrath nach R. Burns, no. 1, Leipzig, Kistner, also set in German (Deutsch) [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876) , no title, appears in Gedichte, in Robert Burns. Elf Lieder [later 13 Lieder], no. 4, first published 1838 ; composed by Adolf Jensen, Luise Adolpha Le Beau, Henry Hugo Pierson, as Henry Hugo Pearson.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Heinrich Julius Heintze (1811 - 1860) , "Schnell bricht die dunkle Nacht", appears in Lieder und Balladen des Schotten Robert Burns, Braunschweig: George Westermann, first published 1840 ; composed by John Böie.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Heinrich Leuthold (1827 - 1879) ; composed by Wilhelm Sturm.
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Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Adieu aux rive de l'Ayr", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2006-12-28
Line count: 32
Word count: 203
La sombre nuit s'épaissit rapidement, Les rafales inconstantes et sauvages hurlent, Au loin un noir nuage est encrassé de pluie, Je le vois se ruer au-dessus de la plaine ; Le chasseur a maintenant quitté la lande. Le vol d'oiseaux dispersé se retrouve en sécurité ; Tandis que je marche, oppressé par les soucis, Au long des berges solitaires de l'Ayr. L'automne pleure son blé mûrissant Déchiré par les ravages précoces de l'hiver ; Au-delà de son placide ciel d'azur, Il voit filer la tempête menaçante : L'entendre se déchaîner me glace le sang ; Je pense à la vague tempétueuse, Où je dois braver bien des dangers, Loin des belles berges de l'Ayr. Ce n'est pas le grondement de de la vague qui enfle, Ce n'est pas cette côte fatale et funeste ; Bien que la mort se montre sous toutes formes, Les malheureux n'ont plus rien à craindre : Mais ce sont les liens serrés autour de mon cœur Ce cœur transpercé de nombreuses blessures, Celles-ci saignent à nouveau quand j'arrache ces liens Pour quitter les belles rives de l'Ayr. Adieu, vieilles collines et vallons de Coila, Lande salubre et vallées sinueuses ; Scènes où erre une malheureuse imagination, Poursuivant le passé, les amours malheureuses ! Adieu, mes amis ! adieux mes ennemis ! Paix à ceux-ci, amour à ceux-là ! : Éclatant en sanglots mon cœur dit : Adieu, belles rives de l'Ayr !
Authorship:
- Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2019 by Pierre Mathé, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in English by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "The gloomy night", title 2: "Farewell to the Banks of Ayr"
This text was added to the website: 2019-04-04
Line count: 32
Word count: 237