The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #92297 Message #1762329
Posted By: Susan of DT
17-Jun-06 - 02:34 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Legend of Duncan Campbell (M MacArthur)
Subject: Lyr Req: Duncan Campbell, Marg MacArthur's song
There are at least two songs about the highlander Duncan Campbell who died at Fort Ticonderoga in the French and Indian War. The Piper's Refrain is in the Digital Tradition, but the one by Margaret MacArthur is not. She recorded it on a record I do not have (Vermont Ballads and Songs on Whetstone). While the Piper's Refrain tells the second half of the story. Margaret's tells the first half of the story. I would like the words to Margaret's song.
It is a wonderful story. Duncan Campbell hears a knock on his door and lets in a friend who says he killed a man in a brawl and is hiding. Swear on your dirk not to tell anyone I am here. He so swears. The next knock on his door is from a group of men who tell him his cousin is dead and they are searching for the murderer. Duncan cannot tell them he is there. The cousin's angry ghost comes to his dream and says they will meet at Ticonderoga. Years go by. Duncan's regiment is called up to fight. They approach a fort "the French call Carillon, but the Indians Ticonderoga". His comrads try to keep the Indian name from him, but he finds out and knows he will die in the battle. He does.