Love Thee Dearest is a ballad written by Irish poet Thomas Moore. It tells of a young man's presumable response to his beloved's question of whether he loves her and if he will leave her. The song begins with the question "Love thee dearest, love thee?" to which he adds "Yes! That star is not more fair". The ballad goes on to explain how the man's love for his significant other is shining light through clouds and contains vivid imagery to portray the extent of his conviction. The verse ends with the statement "Love thee dearest, love thee? Yes, 'til death I'm thine".
The second verse addresses the next question of whether he will leave her: "Leave thee dearest, leave thee?". The man goes on to state: "No! That star is not more true". Again the image of light and clouds is used and the song concludes with the framing statement "But leave thee dearest, leave thee? No, 'til death I'm thine"