Thomas Moore: Collected Lyrics
03 / 27
Public-domain lyrics

As a beam o'er the face of the waters may glow

Thomas Moore

“As a beam o'er the face of the waters may glow” as printed in Irish Melodies (1821).

Thomas Moore: Collected Lyrics Text 3 1821 · historical text
Public domainIrish songRomantic ballad
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Irish Melodies, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

As a beam o'er the face of the waters may glow,

While the tide runs in darkness and coldness below,

So the cheek may be ting'd with a warm sunny smile,

Though the cold heart to ruin runs darkly the while.

Verse 2

One fatal remembrance, one sorrow that throws

Its bleak shade alike o'er our joys and our woes,

To which life nothing darker or brighter can bring,

For which joy has no balm and affliction no sting!—

Verse 3

Oh! this thought in the midst of enjoyment will stay,

Like a dead, leafless branch in the summer's bright ray;

The beams of the warm sun play round it in vain,

It may smile in his light, but it blooms not again!

Credits

Written by Thomas Moore

Words by Thomas Moore (died 1852). Historical text published in Irish Melodies (1821); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Irish Melodies (1821), “As a beam o'er the face of the waters may glow”

Every lyric in this collection was written by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) and first published between 1808 and 1821 (music arranged by John Stevenson, 1761-1833); both contributors died more than 170 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide, and the edition carries a pre-1931 United States public-domain tag. The credited author died in 1852.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-24. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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