 | Songs and ballads by Samuel Lover |  |
OH! WATCH YOU WELL BY DAYLIGHT.
[_]
The Irish peasant says, “Watch well by daylight, for then your own senses are awake to guard you: but keep no watch in darkness, for then God watches over you.” This, however, can hardly be called a superstition, there is so much of rightful reverence in it: for though, in perfect truth, we are as dependent on God by day as by night, yet some allowance may be made for the poetic fondness of the saying.
Oh! watch you well by daylight,
By daylight may you fear,
But take no watch in darkness—
The angels then are near;
For Heav'n the gift bestoweth
Our waking life to keep,
But tender mercy showeth
To guard us in our sleep.
Then watch you well by daylight.
By daylight may you fear,
But take no watch in darkness—
The angels then are near;
For Heav'n the gift bestoweth
Our waking life to keep,
But tender mercy showeth
To guard us in our sleep.
Then watch you well by daylight.
6
Oh! watch you well in pleasure,
For pleasure oft betrays,
But take no watch in sorrow
When joy withdraws its rays:
For in the hour of sorrow,
As in the darkness drear,
To Heav'n entrust the morrow—
The angels then are near.
Then watch you well by daylight.
For pleasure oft betrays,
But take no watch in sorrow
When joy withdraws its rays:
For in the hour of sorrow,
As in the darkness drear,
To Heav'n entrust the morrow—
The angels then are near.
Then watch you well by daylight.
| Songs and ballads by Samuel Lover | |