Thomas Moore: Collected Lyrics
19 / 27
Public-domain lyrics

Silent, oh Moyle! be the roar of thy water

Thomas Moore

“Silent, oh Moyle! be the roar of thy water” as printed in Irish Melodies (1821).

Thomas Moore: Collected Lyrics Text 19 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

Silent, oh Moyle! be the roar of thy water,

Break not, ye breezes, your chain of repose,

While, murmuring mournfully, Lir's lonely daughter

Tells to the night-star her tale of woes.

When shall the swan, her death-note singing,

Sleep, with wings in darkness furl'd?

When will heaven, its sweet bell ringing,

Call my spirit from this stormy world?

Verse 2

Sadly, oh Moyle! to thy winter wave weeping,

Fate bids me languish long ages away;

Yet still in her darkness doth Erin lie sleeping,

Still doth the pure light its dawning delay!

When will that day-star, mildly springing,

Warm our isle with peace and love?

When will heaven, its sweet bell ringing,

Call my spirit to the fields above?

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), “Silent, oh Moyle! be the roar of thy water”

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.
Keep tracing

More from Thomas Moore: Collected Lyrics.

01Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young CharmsPublic-domain lyrics02The Minstrel BoyPublic-domain lyrics03As a beam o'er the face of the waters may glowPublic-domain lyrics04Come, send round the wine, and leave points of beliefPublic-domain lyrics