WILL YE
GO TO SHERRIFFMUIR ?
Traditional
Will ye go to Sheriffmuir,
Bold John o' Innisture?
There to see the noble Mar
And his Highland laddies,
A' the true men o' the north,
Angus, Huntly and Seaforth,
Scouring on to cross the Forth,
Wi' their white cockadies.
There you'll see the banners flare,
There you'll hear the bagpipes' rair,
And the trumpet's deadly blare,
Wi' the cannon's rattle.
There you'll see the bold McCraws,
Camerons and Clanronald's raws,
And a' the clans, wi' loud huzzas,
Rushing to the battle.
There you'll see the noble Whigs,
A' the heroes o' the brigs,
Raw hides and withered wigs
Riding in array, man.
Ri'en hose and raggit hools,
Sour milk and girnin gools,
Psalm-beuks and cutty-stools
We'll see never mair, man.
Will ye go to Sheriffmuir,
Bold John o' Innisture?
Sic a day, and sic an hour
Ne'er was in the north, man.
Siccan sichts will there be seen;
And, gin some be nae mista'en,
Fragrant gales will come bedeen,
Frae the water o' Forth, man.
Footnote : The victory at the Battle
of Sherriffmuir, fought between the Jacobite clans under the Earl of Mar
and the Hanoverian Government forces under the Duke of Argyll on 13
November 1715, was claimed by both sides. The Battle effectively
finished the first major Jacobite rising following the Treaty of Union.
Winners or losers, the Jacobites celebrated the battle in a number of
fine songs. There is some doubt to the identity of Bauld John o
Innisture.
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