Thomas Moore: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Fly not yet, 'tis just the hour

Thomas Moore

“Fly not yet, 'tis just the hour” as printed in Irish Melodies (1821).

Thomas Moore: Collected Lyrics Text 7 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

Fly not yet, 'tis just the hour

When pleasure, like the midnight flower

That scorns the eye of vulgar light,

Begins to bloom for sons of night,

And maids who love the moon!

'Twas but to bless these hours of shade

That beauty and the moon were made;

'Tis then their soft attractions glowing

Set the tides and goblets flowing.

Oh! stay,— Oh! stay,—

Joy so seldom weaves a chain

Like this to-night, that oh! 'tis pain

To break its links so soon.

Verse 2

Fly not yet, the fount that play'd

In times of old through Ammon's shade*,

Verse 3

Though icy cold by day it ran,

Yet still, like souls of mirth, began

To burn when night was near:

And thus, should woman's heart and looks

At noon be cold as winter brooks,

Nor kindle till the night, returning,

Brings their genial hour for burning.

Oh! stay,— Oh! stay,—

When did morning ever break,

And find such beaming eyes awake

As those that sparkle here!

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), “Fly not yet, 'tis just the hour”

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

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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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