Oft in the Stilly Night

A favorite Irish ballad, 1818.
words by Thomas Moore
music: anonymous
arranged by Sir John Stevenson

From Popular Irish Songs (Dover book): Thomas Moore included this song in the first volume of A Selection of Popular National Airs, calling the tune a “Scottish air.” The “Scotch snap” is heard several times in the melody. Abraham Lincoln particularly loved the song.

The sheet music:

Oft-In-the-Stilly-Night – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by American Dreams Stephen Foster:

Oft-In-the-Stilly-Night – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. Oft in the stilly night
    Ere slumber’s chain has bound me
    Fond mem’ry brings the light
    Of other days around me
    The smiles, the tears
    Of childhood’s years
    The words of love then spoken
    The eyes that shone
    Now dimmed and gone
    The cheerful hearts now broken

Refrain
Thus, in a stilly night
Ere slumber’s chain has bound me
Sad mem’ry brings the light
Of other days around me

  1. When I remember all
    The friends, so linked together
    I’ve seen around me fall
    Like leaves in wintry weather
    I feel like one who treads alone
    Some banquet-hall deserted
    Whose lights are fled
    Whose garlands dead
    And all, but he, departed

Sung here by Fred Feild: