The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #20473   Message #213964
Posted By: Mbo
18-Apr-00 - 06:55 PM
Thread Name: Lyr/Chords Req: Gallant Murray / Athole Gathering
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Gallant Murray
No Murray, it's Murray. Here's the story behind the song from the CD notes:

"The hero of this song was Lord George Murray, the fifth son of the first Duke of Athole (now spelled Atholl)who, along with his brother the Marquis of Tullbardine, had taken part in the 1745 Jacobite uprising. Murray was wounded at the battle of Glenshiel in 1719, but managed to escape abroad where he served for some years as an officer in the Sardinian army. He eventually received a pardon and returned to Scotland. On Prince Charles Edward Stuart's arrival in Scotland, Lord George joined his standard at Perth in September, 1745. He was appointed as one of the Lieutenants-General of the rebel forces and acted as such at the battle of Prestonpans, Falkirk, and the final and disatrous Culloden. He was pronounced as having committed high treason but again escaped abroad. He went to Paris in June, 1747, but the "Young Pretender," in spite of all Murray had done and sacrificed for the cause, refused to see him. He then travelled to Rome where he was received with great ceremony by the "Old Pretender", Prince Cherlie's father, who gave him rooms in his palace and introduced him to the Pope. He died on the 11th of October, 1760 at Medenblinck in Holland and left an excellent military memoir on the exploits of the insurgent army of "the Forty-Five." I love the spirit in this song and it is brilliant to sing live. A very small tribute to a brave man."

--Mbo