Traditional
I have sung this for about 40 years; can't remember where I learned t. The Boarding Party tracked it back through Robin Roberts who recorded it as "Love is Kind." It's also knows "Ee Awa," "Haul Awa" or possibly "I a bha," which Norman Kennedy says means "she that's gone" in Gaelic. Lucy Simpson gave me the "blessing" verse, which she made. I often sing this for my wife, Carol, when I'm touring alone.
Gordon – 12 string-guitar
O love is kind to the
least of man
HIE AWA HIE AWA
Though he be but a drunken
tar
HIE AWA HIE AWA
Far from land and the
sight of man
O who will love the
sailorman?
And awa and awa
HIE AWA, HIE AWA
And awa and awa
HIE AWA, HIE AWA
Take me to that star-eyed
maid
O I was happy with her
laid
In the comfort of her bed
There let me lie until I'm
dead
Here's my blessing, let it
be
May you love as she loved
me
For live is kind to the
least of men
Though he be but a drunken
tar
Hie Awa is recorded on the album In Concert