I Walked Abroad in an Evil Hour
I left behind my earthly things,
My silver beads and golden rings.
I left behind my father's bower
To walk abroad in an evil hour.
By the verdant braes o' Callander,
Where the broad, majestic Lenny flows,
I saw a gathering of men
Underneath the rowan bowers.
And they summoned you and you were there;
The moon lightened your silver hair.
You rose above the rowan trees,
And this is what you said to me:
"Oh, watch in rapture, watch in joy,
As I transcend before you, boy.
To call you man I'd lie withal,
For yours a lowly kind of soul.
"And the gods command and you obey;
You dance until the break of day.
The gods command and I defy;
I dance away into the sky."
I left behind my earthly things,
My silver beads and golden rings.
I left behind my father's bower
To walk abroad in an evil hour.