The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #14400   Message #123743
Posted By: Wolfgang
14-Oct-99 - 03:39 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Atholl Highlanders (Battlefield Band
Subject: Lyr Add: THE ATHOLL GATHERING (Battlefield Band)
Jennifer, here is it from the Battlefield Band songbook, enjoy (I fully understand why even a native speaker wouldn't try to transcribe this):

Wolfgang

THE ATHOLL GATHERING
(trad.; source: Battlefield Band, Forward with Scotland's past)

Wha will ride wi' gallant Murray, wha will ride for Geordie's sel'.
He's the flower o' Glenisla and the darlin' o' Dunkeld.
See the white rose on his bonnet, see his banner o'er the Tay.
His guid sword he now has drawn it and has flung the sheath away.

Every faithful Murray follows, first of heroes, best of men.
Every true and trusty Stuart blythely leaves his native glen.
Atholl lads are lads of honour, westland rogues are rebels a'.
When we come within their border we may gar the Campbells claw.

Menzies he's our friend and brother, Gask and Strowan arnae slack.
Noble Perth has ta'en the field and a' the Drummonds at his back.
Let us ride wi' gallant Murray, let us fight for Charlie's crown.
From the right we'll never sinder till the tyrants are brought down.

MacIntosh the gallant soldier wi' the Grahams and Gordons gay,
they have ta'en the field of honour spite of all their chiefs could say.
Bend the musket, point the rapier, shift the brogue for hielan' shoe,
scour the dirk and face the danger, MacIntosh has all to do.

from the Battlefield Band's notes: "...taken from an anonymous Jacobite poem written in 1745. Lord George Murray joined with Prince Charlie's forces at Perth and became Lieutenant General of the Jacobite army."