Poem by Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne

The Convict's Farewell

Oh, this is my departing night,
Fareweel, fareweel, to ane an' a',
Alas! before the mornin's light,
Far maun I be frae ye a'.
Far frae hame a banish'd man,
To lads my kindred never saw;
My fireside dear, may peace be here,
When I am gane and far awa'!

The nights and days that come to me,
O wae they'll be and heartless a';
I've seen what I nae mair maun see,
O' peace and joy amang ye a'.
But I ken weel, had I been leal,
An' held my country's honour'd law,
I need nae now been leaving you,
For foreign lands and far awa'.

The weary tipplin' trade, I trow,
Has brought me to this lost estate;
What in the morn wad been my scorn,
Wi' the bree o'ercome, I did at late.
Now gudewife true, fareweel to you,
An' fareweel, bonnie bairnies a';
My broken heart frae ye maun part,
For lonely lands and far awa'.

It's a delusion, night and day,
That tempts us to transgress the law;
And own we must the sentence just,
That sends the offender far awa'.
But oh! the heavy hour is come;
My last look I ha'e o' ye ta'en;
When I'm away, oh for me pray,
An' mind this nicht, when I am gane.

1. Her Home She Is Leaving
2. The Lass o’ Gowrie
3. Gude Nicht, and Joy Be Wi' Ye A'
4. Fell He on the Field of Fame
5. Hey the Rantin' Murray's Ha'

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