When I've done my work of day
And I row my boat away
Doon the waters of Loch Tay
As the evening light is fading
And I look upon Ben Lawers
Where the after glory glows;
And I think on two bright eyes
And the melting mouth below

She's my beauteous nighean ruadh
She's my joy and sorrow too
And although she is untrue
Well, I cannot live without her
For my heart's a boat in tow
And I'd give the world to know
Why she means to let me go
As I sing: horee horo

Nighean ruadh, your lovely hair
Has more glamour I declare
Than all the tresses rare
'Tween Killin and Aberfeldy
Be they lint white, brown or gold
Be they blacker than the sloe
They are no more worth to me
Than the melting flake of snow

Her eyes are like the gleam
O' the sunlight on the stream
And the songs the fairies sing
Seem like songs she sings at milking
But my heart is full of woe
For last night she bade me go
And the tears begin to flow
As I sing: horee, horo

She's my beauteous nighean ruadh
She's my joy and sorrow too
And although she is untrue
Well, I cannot live without her
For my heart's a boat in tow
And I'd give the world to know
Why she means to let me go
As I sing: horee horo
Nighean ruadh