1. Monday at the gloaming
I saw a reid reid lowe
Where tinker folk would never go
Far ben in the ghaistly howe
Those that gaed afore me
Were nae shadows o' my ain
It's eerie come the nights
When the winter time has come

CHORUS

It's eerie come the nights
When the winter time has come

2. Twa e'en as black as howlets
A week past Marti'mas
Glowered ower the new lit candels
Frae oot the luikin' glass
Three cam' creepin' doon the loan
On Thursday in the mirk
Whase shoon was wrocht in yon far toon
That ne'er had cross nor kirk.

3. I heard the elfin pipers
Sae witchin', sweet an' sma'
On Sabbath wi' the world asleep
They wiled my hert awa'
They stilled the soughin' o' the burn
O tae a lonesome lass
There's eerie freits on ilka road
When bye is Marti'mas

Winter Time is a song I wrote as part of my studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The lyrics are taken from a poem (of the same name) by Marion Angus, who was born in Sunderland but later resided in Aberedeen.

Some of the words of the poem were changed or tweaked in order to fit the phrasing of the melody better.

The poem tells the story of the change from Autumn to Winter, and documents the traditional festivities of Saint Martin's day. At this time of year, labourers from different areas would travel in search of work.

I was originally drawn to this poem for the pleasing imagery of glowing red lights and fresh lit candles, however, there is an eerie, dark feel to parts of the poem with the mention of black owl-like eyes staring through a mirror or window and a ghostly glen.

In the early stages of this song I accompanied my singing with guitar, but due to the free timing of the melody, I decided to leave it unaccompanied.