THE GALLANT FORTY-TWA (or, The Stoutest Man in the Forty Twa)

You may talk about your Lancers and your Irish Fusiliers,
Your Aberdeen Militia and the Dublin Volunteers,
Or any other regiment that's lyin far awa,
But give to me the tartan of the Gallant Forty-Twa.

Chorus
Strolling through the green fields on a summer's day,
Watching all the country girls working [or forking] at the hay,
I really was delighted till he stole my heart awa,
Then left for me the tartan of the Gallant Forty-Twa

Oh I never shall forget the day his regiment marched past,
The pipes they played a lively tune but my heart was aghast,
He turned around and smiled farewell and then from far awa,
He waved to me the tartan of the Gallant Forty-Twa

Once again I heard the music of the pibrochs [bagpipes] from afar,
The tramp, tramp, tramp of weary men returning from the war,
And as they nearer drew, I brushed a a tear awa,
As I spied my Hielan laddie o' the Gallant Forty-Twa.

This version is from "Songs of Belfast" edited by David Hammond, 1978. It differs a fair bit from the Hall/McGregor one. Hammond's note is "Hugh Quinn contributed verses 2 and 3. The first verse and chorus is a relic of Oiny Boak [yes], a travelling man with one song in his repertoire and only the clothes he stood in. A song is by no means the worst legacy, even if it's only one verse".