A lovely song which was written in 1969 by Richard Thompson. The tune is from the traditional song Willy O’Winsbury. The recording was first released on the Fairport Convention album Liege & Lief. Mary Black recorded it on By the Time It Gets Dark and is seen here performing it on the BBC’s Highland Sessions.
Farewell, farewell to you who’d hear
You lonely travellers all.
The cold North wind will blow again
The winding road does call.
And will you never return to see your
Bruised and beaten sons?
Oh, I would, I would if welcome I were
For they loathe me ev’ryone.
And will you never cut the cloth
Or drink the light to be?
And can you never swear a year
To anyone but we?
No I will never cut the cloth
Or drink the light to be,
But I’ll swear a year to one who lies
Asleep alongside of me.
Farewell, farewell to you who’d hear
You lonely travellers all.
The cold North wind will blow again
The winding road does call.
Song of the Isles 