Dark the night and long till day; do not bid us further stray
Dark the night and long till day; do not bid us further stray

Now the sun it doth decline, pour the beer and pour the wine
Let us lead your thoughts astray from the world and from the day

Dark the night and long till day; do not bid us further stray

We bring songs of history, love and war and mystery
We can lead you from despair, or can chill the darkening air

Dark the night and long till day; do not bid us further stray

And you can choose to pass us by with a cruel or scornful eye
We will see the ending through, then we'll turn and say to you:

Dark the night and long till day; do not bid us further stray
Dark the night and long till day; do not bid us further stray
Dark the night and long till day; do not bid us further stray

---
by Sir Walter Scott (The Minstral's Request)
sung by Nic Jones on "From the Devil a Stranger"