Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLean)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 14 - 04:02 PM

I realize this is quite an old thread but I just came across it while trying to find the lyrics and chords for the song "The Declaration of Abroath." If Jim McLean reads this I would love to have a copy of one of the songbooks he offered from his attic! I can be contacted at [e-mail]. Thanks!
-Keith Francis

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLean)
From: Cuilionn
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 03:23 PM

Tattie Bogle-- muckle thanks for the detective wairk.

Jim McLean--apologies for the wee thread hijack. Didnae mean tae distract onyane frae yir ain fine wairk!

BTW, the video is guid for sang-lairnin, but that scrollin text agin the jiggin backgroond maks ma een sair.

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 09:56 AM

I have found this on YouTube, D of A, words and music. As I mentioned a long time ago I changed the melody of Follow me up to Carlow to produce this version. Declaration of Arbroath

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLe
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 07:56 PM

Oh mea clupa! Oh mea tpyo!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLe
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 07:53 PM

Oh dearie me, mea clupa! I've just trawled my CDs and found that the song you want is not by Jim Malcolm but by Ian McCalman of the McCalmans: it's on their "Tangled Web" CD. The Tangled Web bit is a quote from Sir Walter Scott's "Marmion". It's getting late, but I'll post the words later if wanted. Ian McCalman has announced that he is retiring at the end of this year, so I should take the chance to see the band on any f their final tour dates!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLe
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 07:26 PM

Jim Malcolm"s yer man for that as a song. On one of his solos CDs, or maybe while he was with Old Blind Dogs.
The poem is frequently seen on Scottish souvenir tea towels too!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLean)
From: Cuilionn
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 06:02 PM

Thanks for the link. Ah kythe the wairds weel... but the sang itsel is brilliant. It's a parody o the lang-standin popular idolatry o tartan heroes an aa.

Here's the refrain:

"Wha's like us? Damn few an they're aa deid.
When ye think we'll lose, success is guaranteed.
When winning is sairten, watch us bleed--
Wha's like us? Damn few an they're aa deid."

An the first verse:

"Lost causes found a hame in Scotland the Brave
Dashing thro the heather--or hiding in a cave
We took a drunken Frenchman and tried tae mak him king--
What dae we say when he runs away? "Will ye no come back again..."

I'll post a query & see if I can track the author doon. Just thocht ye micht ken!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 05:43 PM

Hi Cuilion, no I don't know the song although the phrase is well known in Scotland and used as a toast. See here:
Here's tae us

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLean)
From: Cuilionn
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 03:08 PM

Well, Jim--
Are you by chance the author of a song I heard--I think on BBC Scotland's "Travelling Folk" program--with the refrain, "Wha's like us? Damn few, & they're aa deid..." ? I was listening via computer and couldn't make out the credits. I love the song and would like to be able to sing it, but won't until I can credit it properly. Let me know if you wrote it--or if you know who did!

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Me
Date: 24 Dec 09 - 01:25 AM

I have the LP version that has been converted to MP3 or MP4. Its not a good copy im affraid it sort of stutters a lot, but you get an idea of the song and hear all the words. email me if you would like a copy or if you have a better copy. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Declaration of Arbroath (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Val Diamond
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 05:35 PM

Did you ever get to hear it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: Jim McLean
Date: 31 May 08 - 02:05 PM

I have emailed the last 'poster' and asked what is required. By the way, the tune is a four four steady rhythm adaptation of Follow me up to Carlow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: GUEST,tony mcintosh
Date: 31 May 08 - 01:19 PM

hi iam trying to find the declaration of arbroath song but cannot find it any where can you help me thanks not the lyrics the actual song you can e-mail me at [e-mail] thank you if anyone can help

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 04:02 PM

Dear patdarling, thank you for mentioning some of my work and I can assure you I still have several hundred 25 Scottish Rebel Songs books in my attic! I pawned a rather good antique collection of song books to a person not to be mentioned in order to finance the printing of this wee book some 36 years ago. This 'person' reneged on the deal years later and wouldn't redeem my pledge! Never mind, I got my book out! If you email me, you can have a copy. My wife would like to see the attic empty! [e-mail] Cheers, Jim Mclean

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: GUEST,patdarlington
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 03:43 PM

I can confirm that Jim McLean did write several good songs (and a number of excellent ones). There is a collection of 25 still available in a Glasgow specialist shop (Alba? - used to be in London Road, now up west somewheres) and some also feature in "The Bo'ness Rebels Ceilidh Song Book", 2 slim volumes now sadly unobtainable, and one of which I've long since lost.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 01:45 PM

Thanks friends, I did write a great deal in the 60s and 70s mainly for up and coming folkies! We had quite a polital folk song revival then and I wrote quite a few 'themed' LPs. Scottish battles, the Highland Clearances, Jacobite rebellion, Robert Burns, Anti polaris, Uper Clyde Ship Builders work-in and various other songs. Most of the songs were recorded but as I am not a singer/writer, although I am a musician, most of the time people credit the singer with the song and often the singer keeps stumm (if that's not a contradiction in terms!). I set a lot of Burns' songs to the original melodies and changed a bit here and there and I hear these now and again from various 'old' singers who assume they are original, but why not? Hugh McDiarmid compared some of my work to Burns ahich I considered a great compliment. Anyway I'll be here for a while so if there is anything else I can help you with feel free to ask and thanks for the nice words I'm hearing. Cheers, Jim Mclean

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: GUEST,rob
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 12:35 PM

the guy obviously desrves recognition. Too often writers like Jim are overlooked or thought of as "traditional". Id like to know more about his works.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: MMario
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 12:28 PM

Jim does seem to be popping up a lot in lyric discussions lately doesn't he?

VERY glad he decided to hang around.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 12:24 PM

You again, Jim? I had not the slightest idea. Thanks again for the correction.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 11:38 AM

PS. I originally wrote it for an LP called 'Scottish Republican Songs' and issued in 1966 on Major Minor records. Hugh McDiarmid, the Scottish poet, wrote the sleeve notes.
Jim Mclean

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 11:33 AM

I wrote the song and the 9th line 1st verse should read
So come what may we'll aye be free
Cheers, Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 10:16 AM

Sorry, the tune is not known to me.

Wolfgnag

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The declaration of Arbroath
From: MMario
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 10:03 AM

Is it to a recognizable tune?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DECLARATION OF ARBROATH (Jim McLean)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 09:31 AM

Many years ago (late 1970s) I have taped an LP (title?) from Alastair McDonald. The LP was meant to support the SNP (Scottish National Party) in an election and the songs on that LP have to be seen in that context. Here's one of them. I have no information as to who wrote it but it sounds fairly new. Errors in the transcription are mine but I hope also minor. Just in case someone wants to read the original declaration of Arbroath, here is the text (grin).

Wolfgang

THE DECLARATION OF ARBROATH

In thirteen twenty Scotland said,
Should England dare our soul to threat
The blood will flow in rivers red
Before capitulation.
No more will Scotland bow the knee
To foreign prince whoe'er he be
So come what may we'll aye be free
From English domination.

CHORUS: Here's to the men that took the oath,
The declaration of Arbroath,
Freedom and right are causes both
To save us from damnation.
Out with traitor, out with foe,
Give the Saxon blow for blow
And freedom's brightest star shall glow
Above the Scottish nation.

It's not for honour that we sigh,
Nor glory makes us long to die,
But liberty is Scotland's cry,
No English subjugation.
Our fathers didn't die in vain,
For while a hundred men remain
No English King will o'er us reign,
Stand up for Scotland's nation.

Too long we've played the Tartan-fool,
Too long we've bowed to English rule,
Too long we've cringed before John Bull
Afraid of confrontation.
So heed the words from Bruce's pen:
Scotland must be free again,
Stand up a hundred Scottish men
Who honour the declaration.


Correction made per later message. --JoeClone, 02-Jun-2008.