Lyr Req: Highland Crofter (from Dougie Maclean)

Subject: Dougie Maclean obscura
From: GUEST,chris spilker
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 02:59 PM

Hey... I saw Dougie Maclean at the Ark in Ann Arbor last year... great show by the way....anyhow..one of the songs he did...seemed to be a traditional number, but i cannot find any reference to in on his recordings...the song was something about the Marquis of something or another....the first line of the chorus was "frae Canmore tae Ban Mor the land was all the MArquis'" any ideas...? thanks a bunch!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dougie Maclean obscura
From: cspilker
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 03:12 PM

I actually remembered that the song was about the Marquis of Bredalbane (sp?)...if that helps anyone! thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dougie Maclean obscura
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 05:03 PM

Hi Chris. Check out this Dougie Maclean lyric site; I didn't see anything titled Marquis of anything , but maybe if you browse through you'll find it.

If not, you might have better luck if you start a new thread titled "Lyr req: Marquis of Bredalbane". This might catch the eye of someone who knows the song but doesn't associate it with Dougie.

Cheers, Marion

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dougie Maclean obscura
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 04:38 AM

Caught Dougie in Colchester (UK) two days ago, but he didn't do this song. His new CD is a corker, which he justifiably showcased at the gig.

And he invited all 200 of us to his boozer in Dunkeld!

Skipjack

Subject: Lyr Add: 'Frae Kenmore to Ben Mhor the land is...'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jun 07 - 07:36 AM

Google Book Search found this in "A History of Clan Campbell, Volume 3: From the Restoration to the Present Day," by Alastair Campbell of Airds, Edinburgh University Press, 2004, page 179:

[No title given]

Frae Kenmore
To Ben Mhor,
The land is a' the Markiss's;
The mossy howes,
The heathery knowes,
An' ilka' bonnie park is his.

The bearded goats,
The toozie stots,
An' a' the braxy carcasses;
Ilk crofter's rent,
Ilk tinker's tent,
An' ilka collie's bark is his.

The muircock's craw,
The piper's blaw,
The gillie's hard day's work is his;
From Kenmore,
To Ben Mhor
The Warld is a' the Markiss's!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HIGHLAND CROFTER (James Kennedy)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 02:03 PM

From "The Complete Scottish and American Poems of James Kennedy" by James Kennedy, 1920.


THE HIGHLAND CROFTER

FRAE Kenmore to Ben More
  The land is a' the Marquises';
The mossy howes, the heathery knowes
  An' ilka bonnie park is his;
The bearded goats, the towsie stots
  An' a' the braxie carcasses;
Ilk crofter's rent, ilk tinkler's tent
  An' ilka collie's bark is his;
The muircock's craw, the piper's blaw.
  The ghillie's hard day's wark is his,
Frae Kenmore to Ben More
  The warld is a' the Marquises'!

The fish that swim, the birds that skim,
  The fir, the ash, the birk is his;
The castle ha', sae big an' braw.
  Yon diamond-crusted durk is his;
The roofless hame,—a burning shame,
  The factor's dirty wark is his;
The poor fowk vexed, the lawyer's text,
  Yon smirkin' legal shark is his;
Frae Kenmore to Ben More
  The warld is a' the Marquises'!

But near, mair near, God's voice we hear—
  The dawn as weel's the dark is His.
The poet's dream, the patriot's theme,
  The fire that lights the mirk is His;
They clearly show God's mills are slow
  But sure the handiwark is His;
And in His grace our hope we place.
  Fair Freedom's sheltering ark is His.
The men that toil should own the soil—
  A note as clear's the lark's is this—
Breadalbane's land—the fair, the grand—
  Will no' be aye the Marquises'!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dougie Maclean obscura
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 06:11 PM

You can hear Dougie MacLean performing his version of this song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqxUj4GhcPE