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HARLAW
Traditional

 
                                        As I cam' by the Garioch land
                                        And doon by Netherha',
                                        There were fifty thoosand Hielanmen
                                        A-marchin' tae Harlaw.
 
                                        Chorus :
                                        Singin' di-dee-i-o,
                                        Sing fal la do,
                                        Sing di-dee-i-o-i ay
 
                                        It's did ye come frae the Hielans, man
                                        Or did ye come a' the wey,
                                        An' did ye see MacDonald an' his men
                                        As they marched frae Skye?
 
                                        For I've come frae the Hielans, man,
                                        An' I've come a' the wey,
                                        An' I saw MacDonald an' his men
                                        As they marched frae Skye.
 
                                        It's wis ye near and near enough,
                                        Did ye their numbers see?
                                        Come tell to me, John Hielanman,
                                        What micht their number be?
 
                                        For I was near and near enough
                                        An' I their number saw:
                                        There were fifty thoosan Hielanmen
                                        A-marchin' tae Harlaw.
 
                                        For they went on an' furder on
                                        An' doon an' by Balquhain:
                                        It's there they met Sir James the Rose,
                                        Wi' him Sir John the Graham.
 
                                        "If that be's true," said Sir James the Rose,
                                        "We'll no come muckle speed.
                                        We'll call upon oor merry men
                                        An' we'll turn oor horses' heids."
 
                                        "Oh nay, oh nay," said Sir John the Graham,
                                        "Sic things we maunna dee:
                                        For the gallant Grahams were never bate
                                        An' we'll try fit they can dee."
 
                                        For they went on an' further on
                                        An' doon an' by Harlaw:
                                        They fell full close on ilka side,
                                        Sic strikes ye never saw.
 
                                        They fell full close on ilka side,
                                        Sic strikes ye never saw,
                                        They fell close on ilka side,
                                        Sic strikes ye never saw.
 
                                        They fell full close on ilka side,
                                        Sic strikes ye never saw,
                                        For ilka sword gied clash for clash
                                        At the battle o' Harlaw.
 
                                        But the Hielanmen wi' their lang swords
                                        They laid on us fu' sair;
                                        They drove back oor merry men
                                        Three acres breadth an' mair.
 
                                        Lord Forbes tae his brither did say
                                        "O brither, dinna ye see?
                                        They beat us back on every side,
                                        An' we'll be forced to flee."
 
                                        "O nay, O nay, my brither dear,
                                        O nay, that maunna be.
                                        Ye'll tak' your guid sword in your hand
                                        An' ye'll gang in wi' me."
 
                                        For the twa brithers brave
                                        Gaed in amangst the thrang;
                                        They struck doon the Hielanmen
                                        Wi' swords baith shairp an' lang.
 
                                        The first strike Lord Forbes gied
                                        The brave MacDonald reeled;
                                        The second strike Lord Forbes gied
                                        The brave MacDonald fell.
 
                                        What a cry amangst the Hielanmen
                                        When they seed their leader fa';
                                        They lifted him an' buried him
                                        A lang mile frae Harlaw.
 
                                        Gin onybody speir at you
                                        For them that cam' awa',
                                        Ye can tell them plain an' verra plain 
                                        They're sleepin' at Harlaw.
 
 
Footnote :This song commemorates 'Bloody Harlaw' ( 24 July 1411 ) fought between Donald, Lord of the Isles, and his Highland host and the crown forces led by the Earl of Mar. The battle ended in a stale-mate, but with a loss of one thousand of his best warriors including the chiefs of the MacLeans and the Mackintoshes, Donald retreated, leaving the lowlanders in command of the field. The lowland force lost some five hundred men including Sir Robert Davidson, the Provost of Aberdeen. The song inaccurately tells of the death of Donald, Lord of the Isles, in the battle - he lived on, but acquiesced the following  year to Albany, Regent of Scotland, uncle of the young James !, King of Scots. Donald dropped his claim to the earldom of Ross and agreed to become a vessal of the crown.