> Folk Music > Songs > The Night Visiting Song

The Night Visiting Song / The Cocks Are Crowing / Adieu Unto All True Lovers

[ Roud 22568 ; Master title: Night Visiting Song ; G/D 4:783 ; Ballad Index Ord089 ; DT NITEVIST ; Mudcat 18991 ; trad.]

Ray and Archie Fisher sang The Night Visiting Song on their 1961 Topic EP Far Over the Forth. The tracks from this EP were also included in 1965 on the compilation album Bonny Lass Come O’er the Burn. Norman Buchan commented in the original album’s sleeve notes:

This is a composite version from field-recordings made by Hamish Henderson. There is a whole series of night-visiting songs in Scotland, ranging from the bawdy, such as The Laird o’ Windy Wa’s to the tender. This is a particular good version of the latter. An English version, The Grey Cock, but with a supernatural theme, may be found in The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.

Thirty years later, Ray Fisher recorded the Night Visiting Song for a second time for her CD Traditional Songs of Scotland.

Alex Campbell sang The Night Visiting Song in 1965 on the B-side of his Transatlantic single Been on the Road So Long.

John Pearse sang the Night Visiting Song in 1966 on the album Folk Scene: A Selection of Songs From Britain’s Finest Folk Music Magazine.

John Reilly sang Adieu Unto All True Lovers in a recording made by Tom Munnelly in his own home in Dublin in Winter 1967. It was published in 1977 on Reilly’s Topic LP The Bonny Green Tree: Songs of an Irish Traveller. Tom Munnelly noted:

Dr. Hugh Shields suggests that The Grey Cock was in its earliest form a dawn song related to the Alba of the medieval troubadours. In this form it carried no supernatural elements for the hero and heroine of the narrative were entirely human. The subsequent mutation of some versions of the ballad into revenant form came with its acquisition of verses from supernatural ballads, notably Sweet William’s Ghost.

That the returned lover in this version is back from the grave is evident enough but it is also interesting to record that on asking John to explain the ‘burning temples’ referred to in the final verse he said: “I suppose he was a soul from purgatory and he had to return to it.”

Norman Kennedy sang the Night Visiting Song on his 1968 Topic album Scots Songs and Ballads. This track was also added to the CD reissue of the album The Bird in the Bush: Traditional Songs of Love and Lust. Peter Hall commented in Kennedy’s album’s sleeve notes:

Before the times of Puritanism in Scotland, it seems the country was quite permissive in sexual matters, and the practice of bundling is still remembered in the Orkney Isles. The custom was to allow a courting couple to be bedded together with sacks tied round the waists to prevent complete consummation of their love, although presumably what could be tied could also be untied. The night visiting songs common to the whole of Northern Europe were a celebration of this practice. The crowing of the cock at the end of the song is not usual in this type of song and probably indicates a fusion with The Grey Cock (Child 248) in which the lover is a visitor from beyond the grave and must, like all such spirits, return before the break.

The Voice Squad sang The Cocks Are Crowing on their 1992 album Holly Wood (later reissued as Good People All). Frank Harte noted on the first album:

This is one of the many ‘night visiting’ songs that appear in the traditional songs of so many countries. I think it is the best song Eddie Butcher ever sang to me.

They also sang The Night Visiting Song (I Must Away) on their 2014 CD Concerning of Three Young Men where they noted:

This is a song we heard from the singing of the great Luke Kelly.

This is a story of a clandestine meeting of true lovers, which there are many examples of in the singing tradition. There is a wonderful innocence, with no suggestion of seduction in the song. A very popular song collected by Luke while on one of his many trips to Scotland. It is included in a collection of songs (Come gie’s a song), 73 traditional Scottish songs, edited by Sheila Douglas.

Graham Moore sang Night Visiting on his 1995 album Tom Paine’s Bones.

Pete Morton sang Night Visiting on his 1998 Harbourtown album Trespass. He noted:

A song about visiting your girlfriend late at night and then leaving early in the morning, on a horse–as you do.

Steve Tilston sang The Night Visiting Song, with lyrics similar to the Voice Squad’s The Cocks Are Crowing, in 1998 on his Fellside CD Solorubato.

Ellen Mitchell learned I Must Away, Love from Pete Shepheard. She sang it in 2000 or 2001 on her and her husband Kevin’s Musical Traditions anthology Have a Drop Mair. (The album notes catalogue this as a variant of Child 248, The Grey Cock, but it fits here better.)

Jane and Amanda Threlfall sang the Night Visiting Song on their 2000 CD Morning Tempest and on their 2007 CD Revisited. They noted:

One of the less graphic accounts of the nocturnal goings-on which were considered acceptable courtship, this was learned from the singing of Ray Fisher. It’s a song that has permeated throughout all areas of traditional singing, and in many versions, with a consequent vagueness as to its origins.

Jack Beck sang The Night Visiting Song in 2001 on his Tradition Bearers CD Half Ower, Half Ower tae Aberdour. He noted:

One [of] a family of songs which reflect the difficulties of courting in rural areas with long distances involved, before the days of modern transport. The reference to the ‘grey cock’ is a remnant from earlier versions of the song where the young man is in fact the ghost of the girl’s dead lover and must leave before cock-crow or be doomed to join the ‘un-dead’! My version is based on a recording of Bella Higgins and Andra Stewart made by Hamish Henderson and Kenneth Goldstein in the mid 1950s.

Community choirs from the Test Valley sang The Night Visiting Song in 2001 on their WildGoose album Beneath Our Changing Sky. The liner notes commented:

The Night Visiting Song has connections back to mediaeval times, being related to the “Aubade” or Dawn Song of the troubadours. The version here was collected by Dr G. Gardiner from William Stockley of Locksheath, near Titchfield.

John Doyle sang The Cocks Are Crowing on his 2005 CD Wayward Son. He noted:

One of the night visiting songs you hear about, this one comes from a field recording of Eddie Butcher. I also heard it on a ground-breaking CD of The Voice Squad called Good People All. The last verse was always a mystery to me but with the help of Mick Moloney I got some much needed clarification on it.

Craig Morgan Robson sang The Night Visit Song on their 2006 CD Stranded. They noted:

Both tune and words were collected by George Gardiner from William Stockley of Locks Heath in Hampshire. There is a belief that the lover who visits his sweetheart by night is in fact a ghost, and has to leave at cock crow in order to return to the other world. However, this lover does not seem particularly ethereal, so it may be that he just needs to make a quick exit before the young lady’s father gets up for work!
That hasn’t stopped us from adding a haunting instrumental part by courtesy of Paul Sartin.

Al O’Donnell learned The Night Visiting Song from Ray Fisher and sang it on his 2008 album Ramble Away, both in a studio and in a live version. This video shows him at Jimmy Crowley’s Cork Folk Club at The Windsor LV Hotel, Cork, on June, 28 2012:

Peter Shepheard sang Night Visiting Song in 2012 on Shepheard, Spiers & Watson’s Springthyme CD Over the High Hills. They noted:

A woman is woken in the night by her lover’s knock at the window. He is but the ghost of her lover and must depart before sunrise to return to the other world.

There are many versions of this collected from recent living tradition in Scotland and the evidence of the night visitor being a returning ghostly lover is not always present. The titles vary: I Must Away, The Porter Laddie, Night Visit Song, The Lover’s Ghost. This version is largely from the singing of Duncan Johnstone of Torwood, Birnam recorded by Peter Shepheard in 1967 (Springthyme 67.4.3) but with the tune and some text from Bella Higgins and Andra Stewart recorded by Hamish Henderson in Blairgowrie in 1958.

The indicators of the supernatural are the departure of the lover as the cocks begin to crow, the sounding of his trumpet as he leaves and his statement that he “must cross the morning’s tempest”—a return journey to the other world. The song may ultimately derive from, or is at least related to, the ballad named by Francis James Child as The Grey Cock (Child 248) and also Sweet William’s Ghost (Child 77).

Kate Rusby sang The Night Visit in 2014 on her CD Ghost.

Josie Duncan sang The Night Visiting Song on her and Pablo Lafuente’s 2018 album The Morning Tempest. They noted:

You can find ‘Night Visiting’ songs across all strands of traditional song, but this particular version comes from Ireland and is usually performed slowly, most famously by Luke Kelly. While night visiting songs are usually about a forbidden lover or a ghost, this one does not specify which it is about. We first heard this more upbeat version of the song performed by Josie’s flatmate, Madeleine Stewart, who learned it from the band Halali.

Piers Cawley sang The Night Visiting Song at a Trad Song Tuesday Twitter singaround. He included his recording in 2020 on his download EP Trad Song Tuesdays Volume 0. He also sang it on his download album Isolation Sessions #2. where he noted:

I’d just learned The Grey Cock (on Isolation Sessions #1) ) when my wife Gill sang this to me and, well, I had to learn that too. I love how two songs can have such a different sense when they share so much—including whole verses. But you can hear the tune of the first verse here and be fairly sure it’s unlikely to end with apocalyptic visions and sex with ghosts.

It is folk song though, so you never know, maybe in this one Willy just keeps quiet.

Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman sang Night Visiting on their 2023 album Almost a Sunset.

Matt Quinn and George Sansome sang the Night Visiting Song in 2023 on their duo album Sheffield Park. Matt Quinn noted:

Learned from the singing of the Scottish trio Shepheard, Spiers and Watson. A song in which nothing bad happens. Everyone has a lovely time. Is it even a folk song if nothing bad happens?

Adam Holmes sang the Night Visiting Song on his 2024 album The Voice of Scotland.

Lyrics

Ray and Archie Fisher sing 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.

And when he came to his true love’s dwelling
He knelt down gently upon a stone,
And through the window he’s whispered lowly
“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 lowly,
“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 o so weary,
For 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 past and gone.

And when the long night was past and over,
And when the small clouds began to grow,
He’s ta’en her hand, aye, they’ve kissed and parted,
Then he’s saddled and mounted and away did go.

John Reilly sings Adieu Unto All True Lovers

For here’s adieu unto all true lovers
And to my true lover where’er she’ll be.
This very night I mean to be with her
Though she is a many a long mile away.

If the night was dark and as dark as a dunghill
And no daylight, love, for to appear,
Saying, “I’ll be guided without a stumble
Into the arms of you, my dear.”

Oh, when he came to his own love’s cottage
He’d kneel down gently all on a stone,
Through a pane o’ glass he had whispered slowly,
“I say, true love, are you all alone?”

“Who’s that? Who’s that at my bed window
Disturbing me from my long night’s rest?”
“Oh, I say, lover, do not discover,
Open the door, love, and let me in.
I say, true lover, do not discover
Besides I’m wet, love, unto the skin.”

Oh, she rose up off her soft down pillow,
Opened the door and let her love in.
Where they both caught hands and they kissed each other;
A welcome night it did soon begin.

They still kept hands and they embraced each other
Until the long night was at an end.
Saying, “ Willie, Willie, where is your flushes?
Where is your flushes you had years ago?”
Saying “Molly Bann, sure cold clay has changed ’em
The raging seas between me and you.”

They still kept hands and they ’braced each other
Until the cocks they begin to crow
And then shook hands and he cried and parted:
“To the burning temples, love, I have to go.”

Norman Kennedy sings The Night Visiting Song

The time has come, I can no longer tarry;
This morning’s tempest I must shortly brave
To cross the moors and high towering mountains
Until I’m in the arms of the one I love.

And when he came to his true love’s dwelling
He knelt down gently upon a stone
And whispered softly into the window
“Does my own true love lie there alone?”

She lifted her head from off her down-white pillow,
She’s lifted the blankets from off her breast
And raised herself up onto an elbow,
“Who’s that disturbing me from my night’s rest?”

“It’s I, it’s I, it’s I, your own true lover,
Oh open the door, love, and let me in;
For I am wet love and also wearied,
For I am wet love into the skin.”

She raised herself up with the greatest of pleasure,
She’s raised her up and she’s let him in;
And all night long they rolled in each other’s arms
Until the long night was past and gone.

And when the long night was past and over
And when the small cocks began to crow,
He shook her hand, aye, they’ve kissed and parted.
He’s saddles and mounted and away did go.

The Voice Squad sing The Cocks Are Crowing

The cocks are crowing, daylight is appearing,
It’s drawing nigh to the break of day.
Arise, my darling, out of your slumber,
Arise, my darling, and come away.

And when he came to his true love’s window
He kneeled low down upon a stone.
And through the window he whispered softly,
“Arise, my darling, and let me in.”

“Oh, who is that that is at my window?
And who is that that gives me no rest?”
“’Tis I, ’tis I, a poor wounded lover
Who fain would speak with you, love, awhile.

“Oh go away then, and ask your daddy
If he would have you my bride to be.
And if he says no, then return and tell me,
For this is the last time I will trouble thee.”

“Oh my dad-da, he is in his bed chamber
He’s fast asleep on his bed of ease
And in his pocket there lies a letter
Which reads, Musha darling, unto your disgrace.”

“Oh what disgrace can he do unto me?
A faithful husband to you I’ll be.
And what other neighbours have round their houses,
The same, my darling, you will have with me.

“Oh go away then, and ask your mammy
If she would have you my bride to be
And if she says no, then return and tell me,
For this is the last time I will trouble thee.”

“Oh my mama, she is an old aged woman
And scarce can hear, love, a word I say.
But she’d have you go, love, and court some other
For I’m not a-fitting of your bride to be.”

“Oh I will go unto the wild mountains
Where I’ll see nothing but the wild deer,
And I’ll eat nothing but the wild herbs, and
I’ll drink nothing but my true love’s tears.

“If the Killey Boyne, it were [mine in the chorus?],
And the green fields, they were mine, and wide,
If my pen were made of the tempered steel, sure
My true love’s praises I could never write.”

The Voice Squad sing The Night Visiting Song (I Must Away)

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 that I love the best.

And when he came to his true loves dwelling
He knelt down gently upon a stone
And through the window, he whispered softly
Is my true lover within this room?

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 oh so weary
For I am wet love unto the skin.

She raised her head up, from off her down white pillow
She raised the blanket up from her breast
And they were locked in each other’s arms
Until the long night had passed and gone.

And when the long night was passed and over
And when the small clouds began to blow
He’s ta’en her hand aye, they kissed and parted
He saddled and bridled and away did go.

Ellen Mitchell sings I Must Away, Love

Although the night be as dark as dungeon,
Wi’ no’ a star tae be seen above,
I will be guided without one stumble
Intae the arms of my ain true love.

He stepped up tae her bedroom window,
He knelt down gently upon a stone,
And through the window he whispered softly,
“My darling dear, do you lie alone?”

She rose up fae her down-white pillow
And threw her arms around her breast.
“Who’s that, who’s that at my bedroom window,
Disturbing me at my long night’s rest?”

“’Tis I, ’tis I, love, it is your ain true lover.
Open the door, love, and let me in,
For I am come on a long night’s journey,
And I am drenched now untae the skin.”

She rose up wi’ the greatest o’ pleasure,
She opened the door and she’s let him in,
And then they kissed and embraced each other
Until the long night was past and gone.

And when the long night was past and over,
And all the small cocks began tae crow,
They kissed and parted,
He saddled and bridled,
He sounded his trumpet and away did go.

“I must away, love, I can no longer tarry.
This morning’s tempest I hae tae cross,
But I’ll be guided without a stumble,
Since I’ve been in the airms o’ the one I love best.”

Peter Shepheard sings Night Visiting Song

Although the night be as dark as dungeon,
No a star to be seen above;
It’s over the high hills I’ll roam with pleasure,
Into the arums of my true love.

He stepped up to her bedroom window,
He’s kneeled down silently upon a stone;
And through the window he,s whispered softly,
“My darling dear do you lie alone?”

She rose up from her down white pillow,
She’s lifted her arums from her lilly white breast;
“Who’se that, who’se that at my bedroom window,
Disturbing me at my long night’s rest?”

“’Tis I, ’tis I love, it is your own true lover,
Open the door now and let me in;
For I am come on a long night’s journey,
And I am near drenched unto the skin.”

She rose up then wi the greatest of pleasure,
She rose up and she let him in;
And they were locked in each other’s arums,
Until that long night was past an gone.

And when that long night, it was past and over,
And all the small cocks began to crow;
They’ve kissed an parted, he’s saddled and mounted,
He sounded his trumpet and away did go.

“For I must away love, I can no longer tarry,
This morning’s tempest I hae tae cross;
𝄆 It’s over the high hills I’ll roam wi pleasure,
Since I’ve been in the airms of my own true love.
It’s over the high hills I’ll roam wi pleasure,
Since I’ve been in the airms of my own true love.” 𝄇