CHARLES IN FRANCE

Had we but a thousand troopers,
Had we but a thousand more!
Noble Perth, I hear them coming! -
Hear! the English cannons' roar.

What kind draught can nature offer
Strong enough to lull their sting?
Better to be born a peasant
Than to live an exiled king!

CHORUS:
Trusty Keppoch! stout Glengarry!
Gallant Gordon! wise Locheill! -
Bid the clansmen hold together,
Fast and fell, and firm as steel.

Styled an equal - deemed a servant -
Fed with hopes of future gain:
Worse by far is fancied freedom
Than the captive's clanking chain!

Bitter tears and cries of anguish,
Unavailing though they be.
For the brave - the brave and noble -
That have died in vain for me!

(chorus)

Woman's love is writ in water!
Woman's faith is traced on sand! -
Backwards - backwards let me wander
To the noble northern land:

Be it hoarse as Corrievreckan
Spouting when the storm is high -
Give me but one hour of Scotland -
Let me see it ere I die!

(chorus)

As sung by the McCalmans on the LP "An Audience with the McCalmans", RCA LSA 3179