When I've done my work of day and I row my boat away
Down the waters of Loch Tay as the evening light is fading
And I look upon Ben Lawers, where the afterglory glows
And I think on two bright eyes and the melting mouth below
She's my beautious Nean Rua, 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 hi ree hi row

Nighean ruadh, your lovely hair has more glamor 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 a melting flake of snow
Her eyes are like the gleam of the sunlight o'er 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 bad me go
And the tears begin to flow as I sing hi ree hi row