Links often get old and die, so I encourage people to post the lyrics.

LOVE IS KIND

Oh love is kind to the least of men
Oíche Mhaith
Though he be but a drunken tar
Oíche Mhaith

So far from men, and the sight of land
Oíche Mhaith
Haul along, the sailor man
Oíche...

So take me to that star‐eyed maid,
For I was happy with her lain

Oh in the comfort of her bed
Let me lie until I'm dead

For love is kind to the least of men
Though he be but a drunken tar


credits
from Cold Old Fire, released May 25, 2014
Trad. arr. Lynched

Robin Roberts, the American singer and folksong collector, who accompanied Alan Lomax and Séamus Ennis on their Irish collecting trips in 1951 and 1953, sang this song which came from a retired clipper ship's sailor living in Massachusetts. We first heard it from the Clancy brothers and Tommy Makem on their LP 'Sing of the Sea' (1968). The refrain has been variously interpreted as 'E awa', 'Hie awa', 'Haul awa', and even 'i a bha', Scots Gaelic for 'she was'. Interestingly, no-one seems to have understood it as the Gaelic 'Oíche mhaith' (Goodnight), which we always have. We respectfully dedicate this song to the memory of Teresa Dermody.


Source: https://lynchedfolkmiscreants.bandcamp.com/track/love-is-kind

Clancy Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmxx9jJzNBo