Catlin, the version sung by Mary Black makes a reference to "The glow of the gree sark" (my spelling). When I first discovered the Mudcat I asked if anyone knew what this meant. Some one, and I can't remember who (sorry,) explained that it's a celtic word refering to the glowing embers of a fire, perhaps most typically seen in the wee hours of the morning whilst a sad, lonely person sits by the dying fire. That makes sense to me with the idea of the "half hearth" giving off "half light".

Paul