The version under the section of Robert Tannahill in Charles Rogers, The Scottish Minstrel: The Songs of Scotland Subsequent to Burns (Edinburgh: William P. Nimmo, 1872, p. 142; words only) has a different set of words with a chorus, the title being "Good Night, and Joy."

GOOD NIGHT, AND JOY*
^^ AIR--"Good night, and joy be wi' you a'."

THE weary sun's gaen down the west,
The birds sit nodding on the tree;
All nature now prepares for rest,
But rest prepared there's none for me.
The trumpet sounds to war's alarms,
The drums they beat, the fifes they play:
Come, Mary, cheer me wi' thy charms,
For the morn I will be far away.

    Good night, and joy--good night, and joy,
    Good night, and joy be wi' you a';
    For since its so that I must go,
    Good night, and joy be wi' you a'!

I grieve to leave my comrades dear,
I mourn to leave my native shore--
To leave my aged parents here,
And the bonnie lass whom I adore.
But tender thoughts maun now be hush'd,
When danger calls I must obey;
The transport waits us on the coast,
And the morn I will be far away.
    Good night, and joy, etc.

Adieu, dear Scotia's sea-beat coast!
Though bleak and drear thy mountains be,
When on the heaving ocean tost,
I'll cast a wishful look to thee!
And now, dear Mary, fare thee well,
May Providence thy guardian be!
Or in the camp, or on the field,
I'll heave a sigh, and think on thee!
    Good night, and joy, etc.

*From Mr Matthew Tannahill we received a copy of this song of his gifted brother. It has been printed, through the favour of Mr M. Tannahill, in the "Book of Scottish Song."

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Masato sent me a link to this information from Susanne (skw)
-Joe Offer-
^^

Good Night and Joy

The year is wearing to the wane
And day is fading west awa'
Loud raves the torrent and the rain
And dark the cloud comes down the shaw
But let the tempest tout and blaw
Upon his loudest winter's horn
Good night, and joy be wi' you a'
We'll maybe meet again the morn

O we hae wandered far and wide
O'er Scotia's hills, o'er firth and fell
And mony a simple flower we've culled
And trimmed them wi' the heather-bell
We've ranged the dingle and the dell
The hamlet and the baron's ha'
Now let us take a kind farewell
Good night, and joy be wi' you a'

Though I was wayward, you were kind
And sorrow'd when I went astray
For O, my strains were often wild
As winds upon a winter's day
If e'er I led you from the way
Forgi'e your Minstrel aince for a'
A tear fa's wi' his parting lay
Good night, and joy be wi' you a'

(as sung by The McCalmans)

[1970:] Born in Ettrick Forest, [James Hogg (1770-1835)] spent his early days as a shepherd, but he was discovered by Scott while collecting material for his 'Border Minstrelsy', and taken under that ample wing. He had almost no formal education, [...] but he soon became famous among the famous of his time - helped by his magnificent personality. He farmed most of his life and left a variety of notable works [...]. (Penguin Book of Scottish Verse 15f)

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Thread #63989   Message #1043275
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
28-Oct-03 - 01:26 PM
Thread Name: DTStudy: Farewell to Nova Scotia
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Farewell to Nova Scotia

The tune Good Night and Joy be wi' ye a' was very well known in the later 18th century. Niel Gow and Sons included it in part II of Gow's Repository of the Dance Music of Scotland, with the comment "This Tune is played at the Conclusion of every convivial Dancing meeting throughout Scotland".

Here is a midi of Gow's setting:  Good Night and Joy be wi' ye a'
source: http://www.folk-network.com