Thomas Moore: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Oh! weep for the hour

Thomas Moore

“Oh! weep for the hour” as printed in Irish Melodies (1821).

Thomas Moore: Collected Lyrics Text 16 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

Oh! weep for the hour,

When to Eveleen's bower

The Lord of the valley with false vows came;

The moon hid her light

From the heavens that night,

Arid wept behind her clouds o'er the maiden's shame.

The clouds past soon

From the chaste, cold moon,

And heaven smil'd again with her vestal flame;

But none will see the day,

When the clouds shall pass away,

Which that dark hour left upon Eveleen's fame.

Verse 2

The white snow lay

On the narrow path-way,

Where the Lord of the valley crost over the moor;

And many a deep print

On the white snow's tint

Shew'd the track of his foot-step to Eveleen's door.

Verse 3

The next sun's ray

Soon melted away

Every trace on the path where the false Lord came;

But there's a light above,

Which alone can remove

That stain upon the snow of fair Eveleen's fame.

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), “Oh! weep for 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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