| 1 |
As I cam in by Dunidier,
An doun by netherha,
There was fifty thousand Hielanmen
A-marching to Harlaw.
Wi a dree dree dradie drumtie dree. |
| 2 |
As I cam on, an farther on,
An doun an by Balquhain,
Oh there I met Sir James the Rose,
Wi him Sir John the Gryme. |
| 3 |
'O cam ye frae the Hielans, man?
An cam ye a' the wey?
Saw ye Macdonell an his men,
As they cam frae the Skee?' |
| 4 |
'Yes, me cam frae ta Hielans, man,
An me cam a' ta wey,
An she saw Macdonell and his men,
As they cam frae ta Skee.' |
| 5 |
'Oh was ye near Macdonell's men?
Did ye their numbers see?
Come, tell to me, John Hielanman,
What micht their numbers be?' |
| 6 |
'Yes, me was near, an near eneuch,
An me their numbers saw;
There was fifty thousan Hielanmen
A-marchin to Harlaw.' |
| 7 |
'Gin that be true,' says James the Rose,
'We'll no come meikle speed;
We'll cry upo our merry men,
And lichtly mount our steed.' |
| 8 |
'Oh no, oh no,' says John the Gryme,
'That thing maun never be;
The gallant Grymes were never bate,
We'll try phat we can dee.' |
| 9 |
As I cam on, an farther on,
An doun an by Harlaw,
They fell fu close on ilka side;
Sic fun ye never saw. |
| 10 |
They fell fu close on ilka side,
Sic fun ye never saw;
For Hielan swords gied clash for clash,
At the battle o Harlaw. |
| 11 |
The Hielanmen, wi their lang swords,
They laid on us fu sair,
An they drave back our merry men
Three acres breadth and mair. |
| 12 |
Brave Forb s to his brither did say,
Noo brither, dinna ye see?
They beat us back on ilka side,
An we'se be forced to flee. |
| 13 |
'Oh no, oh no, my brither dear,
That thing maun never be;
Tak ye your good sword in your hand,
An come your wa's wi me.' |
| 14 |
'Oh no, oh no, my brither dear,
The clans they are ower strang,
An they drive back our merry men,
Wi swords baith sharp an lang.' |
| 15 |
Brave Forb s drew his men aside,
Said, Tak your rest a while,
Until I to Drumminnor send,
To fess my coat o mail. |
| 16 |
The servan he did ride,
An his horse it did na fail,
For in twa hours an a quarter
He brocht the coat o mail. |
| 17 |
Then back to back the brithers twa
Gaed in amo the thrang,
An they hewed doun the Hielanmen,
Wi swords baith sharp and lang. |
| 18 |
Macdonell, he was young an stout,
Had on his coat o mail,
An he has gane oot throw them a',
To try his han himsell. |
| 19 |
The first ae straik that Forb s strack,
He garrt Macdonell reel,
An the neist ae straik that Forb s strack,
The great Macdonell fell. |
| 20 |
An siccan a lierachie
I'm sure ye never saw
As wis amo the Hielanmen,
When they saw Macdonell fa. |
| 21 |
An whan they saw that he was deid,
They turnd an ran awa,
An they buried him in Leggett's Den,
A large mile frae Harlaw. |
| 22 |
They rade, they ran, an some did gang,
They were o sma record;
But Forb s an his merry men,
They slew them a' the road. |
| 23 |
On Monanday, at mornin,
The battle it began,
On Saturday, at gloamin,
Ye'd scarce kent wha had wan. |
| 24 |
An sic a weary buryin
I'm sure ye never saw
As wis the Sunday after that,
On the muirs aneath Harlaw. |
| 25 |
Gin ony body speer at you
For them ye took awa,
Ye may tell their wives and bairnies
They're sleepin at Harlaw. |
