One of my favorites when the Reivers were singing up in Kamloops, B.C. was "THE GALLANT FORTY-TWA."

You may talk about your lancers or your Irish Fusilliers,
The Aberdeen Militia or the Queen's Own Volunteers,
Or any other regiment that's lyin' far awa',
But gie tae me the tartan o' the gallant Forty-Twa.

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.

I never will 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 o' the gallant Forty Twa.

Once again I heard the music o' the pipers from afar;
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 bonny laddie and the gallant Forty-Twa.


Any information that anyone has to share about the history of the song would be appreciated. I didn't find it in the DT search. Charles (Reiver 1) and I always had to chuckle at the middle verse as we pictured the soldier marching away (sorry, awa'), suddenly stopping, stripping off his plaid and waving it in the air in farewell! We always had a knack for turning serious songs into something we could laugh about. ^^^