As The Reivers we sang this version we learned from a Clancy Bros. recording]. THE GALLANT FORTY-TWA 1] You may talk about your Lancers and your Irish Fusiliers, The Aberdeen Militia or The Queen's Own Volunteers; Or any other regiment that's lyin' far awa, But gie tae me the tartan of the gallant Forty-Twa CHO: And strollin' through the green fields on a summer day, Watchin' a' the country girls workin' a' the hay. I really was delighted and he stole ma heart awa' When I saw him in the tartan o' the gallant Forty-Twa. 2] I never will forget the day his regiment marched past The pipes they played a lively tune, but my heart was agast. He turned around and smiled farewell, and then from far awa', He waved to me the tartan o' the gallant Forty-Twa. CHO: 2] Once again I heard the music o' the pipers from a-far, They tramped and tramped, the weary men, returnin' from the war. And as they nearer drew, I brushed a woeful tear awa' Tae see ma bonnie laddie and the gallant Forty Twa. CHO: [repeating last two lines] Either Reiver 1 or I commented once in rehearsal about visualizing the moment described in verse 2, as the soldier suddenly stripping off his kilt and waving it frantically in the air! Every time we sang the song after that, we had to struggle to keep from laughing every time we got to that line in the song. Perhaps it was due to that association that it remained one of our favorite songs for a long time. Maybe, we joked, the regiment was called the Black Watch, because everyone always watched for a soldier to suddenly turn and wave his tartan kilt in the air! Reiver 2
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