Archie Fisher in Churchill's People

Subject: Lyr Req: Archie Fisher William Wallace ballad
From: GUEST,Barney Sloane
Date: 25 Jun 23 - 07:57 PM

Hi all, I recently stumbled upon Archie Fisher's appearance as a balladeer in the William Wallace episode of Churchill's People. It starts about 46m40s into this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSbvrDxqsS0

Anyway, I've been attempting to transcribe the ballad he sings (presumably it was written for the series?) and have had limited success - could anybody with sharper ears than my own possibly help fill in the gaps, please?


Here's what I've got thus far:

Seven long years since Falkirk Field
Seven sore years of Edward's power
Come unto me, the great king said
And swear to live in peace

For bloody strife has tired my soul
And filled my heart with tears
So Scotland's lords gave him their word
And placed their hands in his

They swore to serve him as their king
Afore any other man
Not one part ??????????
In pride and sinful scorn

He swore to live or die alone
For Scotland's freedom lost
Thus did brave Wallace cry to said???????
Thus did the poor fool say

Tell me good man, who is the fool
When wise men practise roguery
Say you, he's gone and Scotland's dead
Ah, but did you see him die?


Thanks in advance!

Subject: RE: Archie Fisher in Churchill's People
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 26 Jun 23 - 01:37 PM

Both lines in question appear to end with the phrase "'tis said". The first line also appears to feature the word "rogue" but that's about all I can discern.

Subject: RE: Archie Fisher in Churchill's People
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jun 23 - 05:05 PM

Is that actually Archie, or an actor mouthing the words in the film?

Subject: RE: Archie Fisher in Churchill's People
From: GUEST,Ian B
Date: 27 Jun 23 - 03:54 PM

To answer the previous question. Archie Fisher is listed as the Ballad Singer in the final credits.

Subject: RE: Archie Fisher in Churchill's People
From: GUEST,Barney Sloane
Date: 27 Jun 23 - 05:53 PM

I think RA may just have helped me crack it, cheers!


Seven long years since Falkirk Field
Seven sore years of Edward's power
Come unto me, the great king said
And swear to live in peace

For bloody strife has tired my soul
And filled my heart with tears
So Scotland's lords gave him their word
And placed their hands in his

They swore to serve him as their king
Afore any other man
But one apart, a rogue 'tis said
In pride and sinful scorn

He swore to live or die alone
For Scotland's freedom lost
Thus did brave Wallace cry, 'tis said
Thus did the poor fool say

Tell me good man, who is the fool
When wise men practise roguery
Say you, he's gone and Scotland's dead
Ah, but did you see him die?


It's an *enormously* frustrating series but there are occasional delights to be found therein - the final episode (Death or Liberty) features Ian Campbell singing The Hand-Loom Weavers' Lament and episode #19 (The Derry Boys) was scripted by one Dominic Behan. They can all be found tucked away on YouTube, if anyone's feeling morbidly curious.

Subject: RE: Archie Fisher in Churchill's People
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 04 Jul 23 - 08:14 AM

btw
you can add that timestamp at the end of the URL
https://youtu.be/TSbvrDxqsS0?t=45m38s


idk why but sharing from my tablet uses youtu.be rather than youtube and youtube in the URL doesn't seem to work for me.