The Night Was Still
written in 1786
The Night Was Still - meaning Summary
Moonlit Revelry and Local Pride
This short lyric sketches a calm, moonlit evening beside a castle wall. Natural details — the shining moon, a singing mavis, and dewdrops — create a tranquil setting in which people gather to dance and celebrate together. The repeated reference to the springtime refrain links communal merriment to local affection: the song praises the children of Irvine. Overall the poem conveys simple rural pleasure and social harmony, focusing on sound, motion, and place rather than narrative development or introspective reflection.
Read Complete AnalysesThe night was still, and o'er the hill The moon shone on the castle wa'; The mavis sang, while dew-drops hang Around her on the castle wa'. Sae merrily they danc'd the ring, Frae e'enin till the cocks did craw, And aye the owerword o' the spring Was Irvine's bairns are bonnie a'.
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