WHA'LL BE KING BUT CHARLIE?
Caroline Oliphant, Lady Nairne

The news frae Moidart cam yestreen,
Will soon gar mony ferlie,

For ships o' war hae just come in,
And landed royal Charlie.

 Chorus :
Come through the heather, around him gather,
Ye're a' the welcomer early;
Around him cling wi' a' your kin,
For wha'll be King but Charlie?
Come through the heather, around him gather,
Come Ronald, come Donald, come a' thegither,
And claim your rightfu', lawfu' King,
For wha'll be King but Charlie?

 The Highland clans wi' sword in hand
Frae John o' Groats to Airly,
Hae to a man declared to stand
Or fa' wi' royal Charlie.

 The Lowlands a', baith great an' sma',
Wi' mony a lord an' laird, hae
Declared for Scotia's king an' law
An' speir ye wha, but Charlie?

 There's nae a lass in a' the land,
But vows baith late an' early,
To man she'll ne'er gie heart or han'
Wha wadna fecht for Charlie.

 Then here's a health to Charlie's cause,

An' be it complete an' early;
His very name our heart's blood warms,
To arms for Royal Charlie.

 

Footnote : Caroline Oliphant, Lady Nairne came from the Jacobite Family of Gask in Perthshire. Bonnie Prince Charlie visited the family during the forty-Five. This week sees the anniversary of the Jacobite victory at Inverurie on 23 December 1745 ( see Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs ).