WILLIE-O'S SONG CHALLENGE WINNER!

Willie-O's Song Challenge:  The way the contents of Áine's Mudcat Songbook are ordered, the first song listed is my ballad "1743", because the index puts numbered titles in sequence first, then alphabetizes the rest.  So here's my challenge: write a song about a year or event which preceded 1743 AD, (as far back as 1742 BC actually), entitle it accordingly, and knock me out of the top spot! I dare ya!


Bloody Edward by Mbo

Mbo's Comments:  I wrote a song all about William Wallace's exploits after watching Braveheart, but know after reading the REAL history and finding out that the movie was a big crock of hooey (I HATE what they did to The Bruce) I don't sing it anymore . . . but if you want to see the historically inaccurate lyrics, I'll be glad to post them. BTW I kept the tune . . . it became "Robert The Bruce's March." It was the first Celtic song I wrote--and spawned the whole songwriting thing for me. Sins of my young age.


In days of yore, so long ago 
We marched out, to meet the hated foe 
So that our bonnie homeland would not go 
To the bloody English King, oh oh 
To Bloody Edward, King.

We met them on the field that day 
At Stirling bridge we had our say 
We drove the English foe away 
To our land come no more, no no 
To our land come no more

The valleys echoed with the sound 
Of many boots that shook the ground 
Our Highland pipes, they drove us on 
To claim what did to us belong 
The clan's old tartans there arrayed 
And claymores sharp in arms upraised 
'Cross places no one had been before 
Scotland's men--we go to war! 

We took the Highlands, we took the Low 
From the Isle of Skye to Edinburgh 
And places only Scotsmen know 
From the bloody English King, oh oh 
From Bloody Edward, King.

Sir William Wallace led our lot 
Through winter freezing and summer hot 
A grim and awesome force he wrought 
Against the bloody English king, oh oh 
Against Bloody Edward, King.

Well, Bloody Edward and his host 
They gave the wound that hurt us most 
At Falkirk our army was made a ghost 
By the bloody English king, oh oh 
By Bloody Edward, King.

The valleys echoed with the sound 
Of worn-out boots that tread the ground 
Our Highland pipes, they did not play 
As we retreated back the way 
That we had come so long ago 
The ways that only Scotsmen know 
'Cross places we had fought before 
The Scottish men return from war.

Well, we carried on the fight for years 
Both shedding blood and shedding tears 
Trying not to show our fears 
The the bloody English king, no no 
To Bloody Edward, King.

They captured Wallace--what an end! 
They hoped with torture then to bend 
His mind, instead he gave his head 
To the bloody English king, oh oh 
To Bloody Edward, King.

It was a horrid day for all 
But Robert the Bruce took up our call 
Again we march out straight and tall 
Against the bloody English king, oh oh 
Against Edward's son, the King.

The valleys echo with the sound 
Of many boots that shake the ground 
Our Highland pipes, they drive us on 
To reclaim what does to us belong 
The clan's old tartans there arrayed 
And claymores sharp in arms upraised 
'Cross places Death had seen before 
Scotland's men we go to war.

Well, we gained our freedom, gained our land 
With gallant Robert, we made our stand 
Yes we, the valiant Scottish band 
At Bannockburn we won, oh oh 
At Bannockburn WE WON!

Matthew Richards (1997)