Lyr Req: I must away love

Subject: words for song
From: GUEST,toots
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 03:37 PM

does anyone have words for the song that begins
    I must away love, I can no longer tarry ? I have looked in digithingy without any luck, and a friend of mine is desparate to learn this song. Sorry, I don`t know the title, I`m only familiar with the tune, though I suspect it may be of Scottish origin. Thanks in advance

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Messages from multiple threads combined. Check message titles to see which message comes from which thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: words for song - I must away love
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 03:42 PM

Hi, toots - I wonder if it's Night Visiting Song (click).
Note that I added to the thread title to make it more specific.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: words for song - I must away love
From: MMario
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 03:43 PM

Night visiting Song

url=www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=4229

Subject: RE: words for song - I must away love
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:25 PM

Yes, it must be Night Visiting Song - a real cracker!

Subject: RE: words for song - I must away love
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:40 PM

If we're talking Scottish versions of the song which begin I must away love, then I expect most people will be familiar with it from the arrangement recorded by the Tannahill Weavers. I don't know if they credited their source or not; it isn't difficult to find transcriptions of their recording on the web, but nobody seems to have bothered to quote the sleevenotes. Stanley Robertson and Bobby Robb are both possible traditional sources. Robb's set is quoted in Shelia Douglas' book Come Gie's a Sang; you can see Robertson's text at Nathan D. Rose's site: I Must Away, Love

Note that Nathan, who recorded that text from Stanley, asks that it not be reproduced on other websites.

Subject: Lyrics req`d
From: dowdie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 06:17 PM

Has anyone out there got words to the song which begins:
          I must away love, I cannot tarry
    I`m familar with the tune, which I`m convinced is from the Scottish tradition, but I could be wrong. A friend of mine would dearly love to learn it, but that`s all the info I have. HHEELLPP!

Subject: Lyr Add: NIGHT VISITING SONG / I MUST AWAY LOVE
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 06:22 PM

Howdy Dowdie - Go to google.com and type in "I must away love", including quotations. You'll get a plethora of links including one to this:
Cheers, Bardford
THE NIGHT VISITING SONG
         Recorded on 'Half Ower, Half Ower tae Aberdour'
         by Jack Beck
         The Tradition Bearers - Scots Songs and Ballads Series LTCD1006
         "I must away, love, I can nae langer tarry,
         this morning's tempest I have tae cross,
         I must be guided without a stumble,
         intae the airms o' my ain true love".

         And when he cam tae his ain true lover's dwelling,
         he knelt doon gently upon a stane,
         and through the windae he's whispered gently,
         "is my true lover within at hame"?

         She's raised her up from off her down-white pillow,
         she's raised the blanket across her breist,
         and through the windae she's whispered gently,
         "who's that disturbin' me at my lang night's rest"?

         "'Tis I, 'tis I, love, it is your ain true lover,
         please open the windae, and let me in,
         for I am wet, love, and unco weary,
         and I am near drenched untae my skin".

         She's raised her up from off her down-white pillow,
         she's raised the windae, and let him in,
         and they were locked in each ither's airms,
         until the lang night was past and gane.

         And when the lang night it was past and over,
         and when the grey cock began tae crow,
         they've baith shook hands, aye, they've kissed and pairted,
         he's saddled and mounted and away did go.^^^

Subject: I must away love - Lyrics req`d
From: dowdie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 06:24 PM

does anyone out there havethe words in their brain or elsewhere to the gorgeous song that starts;
    I mus away love, I cannot tarry
I`m familiar with the tune, which I think may be of Scottish origin, but not the words as you can tell, I don`t know the title either. Thicko eh? A friend of mine wants to learn the song , so I`m trying to be helpful!
    Ta in advance

Subject: RE: Lyrics req`d
From: dowdie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 06:42 PM

thanks darling you`ve made a happy folkie out of a grizzly bear

Subject: RE: words for song - I must away love
From: dowdie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 06:52 PM

Thanks especially to Malcolm, but to all of you for your help in finding the words for this very popular song, at least I was right about it`s origin, my friend who wants to sing it, says it was made famous by her dad, who`s a Yorkshireman! Stand fast by your trads, I`m aCo.Durhamer!

Subject: RE: Lyrics req`d
From: breezy
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 06:56 PM

Isnt it the same text as 'I'm A Rover' the song of a scottish collie

Subject: RE: words for song - I must away love
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 01:11 AM

Ray and Archie Fisher were singing it around 1960 - don't know where they got it though. I think they recorded it on one of those hootenanny compilation CDs.

Subject: RE: words for song - I must away love
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 01:57 AM

THAT's why it's so familiar. I bought a Saydisc CD by Ray Fisher, Traditional Songs of Scotland and "Night Visiting Song" is the first cut. It's a delightful CD, and Ray Fisher is even more delightful to see in person.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: I must away love - Lyrics req`d
From: Declan
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 05:08 AM

I'm too lazy to click the links to find out, but they probably tell you that the title of the song is "The Night Visiting Song". Its been recorded by a lot of people including Luke Kelly. Kate Rusby sings these lyrics to a new tune written by John McCusker on his "Yella Hoose" album.

Subject: Lyr Add: NIGHT VISITING SONG^^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 02:10 PM

THE NIGHT VISITING SONG

I must away now I can no longer tarry.
This morning's tempest I have to cross.
I must be guided without a stumble
Into the arms I love the most.

Well when he came to his truelove's dwelling.
He knelt down gently upon a stone.
And through the window he whispered slowly.
'Is my true lover within at home?'

She's lifted her head from off her down white pillow.
She's lifted the blankets from off her breast,
And through the window she's whispered slowly.
'Who's that disturbing me at my night's rest?'

'Wake up. wake up, love, it is your own true lover,
Wake up, wake up. love, and let me in.
For I am wet, love, and also weary.
Yes I am wet,love, into my skin.'

She's raised her up with the greatest of pleasure.
She's raised her up to let him in.
And they were locked in each other's arms
Until the long night was passed and gone.

And when that long night was passed and over.
And when the smoke clouds began to grow,
He's ta'en her hand, aye, they've kissed and parted,
He's saddled and mounted and away did go.^^^


source: Ray Fisher's CD, Traditional Songs of Scotland (Saydisc, 1991)

Fisher's notes: Night-visiting was regarded widely as an acceptable practice in the courtship ritual. There are many songs that fall within the category known in Scotland as 'bundling songs' - this one is decidedly polite.

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The two versions in this thread are very similar to what's in the Digial Tradition, so I'm going to pass them up for harvesting and mark them ^^^

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(click here to search for various Night Visiting Songs).