Lyr Add: Culloden or Drummossie Moor

Subject: Lyr Add: Culloden or Drummossie Moor
From: Jim McLean
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 05:41 PM

CULLODEN or DRUMMOSIE MOOR
Words Jim McLean 1963
Tune The Bonnie Hoose o' Airlie (A wee bird cam tae oor ha' door…)
Pub. Duart Music London

I wrote this song, not as a romantic ballad in praise of Charles Edward Stewart, but to show how his arrogance and the incompetence of his generals, coupled with the fierce pride of his Chieftains, notably the MacDonalds, led to a terrible slaughter and was the beginning of the end of the Highland way of life.

The hail o' Scotland's wearing black,
A' dessed up for the soddin,                                 (burial)
Prince Chairlie chose the place himsel',
The grave yaird o' Culloden.
Wi' hungry men, he faced the Duke,                        (Cumberland)
Wi' hungry men an' weary.
Wi' sticks and stanes,' gainst England's guns,      
They thocht they'd win for Chairlie.

MacDonald he glowered, and stood aback,
His pride was hurt richt sairly,
Hw wouldna fecht on any other side,
But on the richt o' Chairlie.
On England's side, wi' lack o' pride,
The Campbell smiled sae slyly,
Oor Hielan' men, were split in twain,
They focht baith for George and for Chairlie.

The Redcoats gaed doon on yin knee,
And held their muskets ready.
Their bellies ticht wi' breid and cheese,
Their haunds sae warm and steady,
Oor Hieland men upon them cam,
Their rags aboot them barely.
Wi' slogans an faith, they met their death,
They starved and died for Chairlie.

He stood on a knowe, the fecht tae see,
The snaw fell on him lichtly,
But in scarce an oor on Drummossie Moor                (hour)
He witnessed the murder o' his country.
The hale o' Scotland's wearing black,
A' dressed up for the soddin'
Prince Chairlie chose the place himsel'
The Graveyaird o' Culloden.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Culloden or Drummossie Moor
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 04:48 PM

I can't remember having heard this song yet.
Jim, you are a powerful songwriter.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Culloden or Drummossie Moor
From: Muttley
Date: 18 Mar 05 - 07:18 AM

If you have the chords for guitar for this song I'd LOVE to have them. Then i can go search for the actual tune so I can learn to play it to my schoolchildren I teach and to my own kids: I like to keep them informed of their heritage.

I would also echo the sentiments of Wolfgang: James, you do indeed paint a wonderful and evocative picture with your powerful words; rendering tragic one of the darker episodes of the history of my heritage and highlighting the naivete and stupidity of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" - he certainly had a cause - but not the guts or the brains or the backing to follow it through.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Culloden or Drummossie Moor
From: Jim McLean
Date: 18 Mar 05 - 01:43 PM

Thanks folks. If it's played in F, then C,F and Bflat (all major chords) seem to work. I don't know whether the tune 'The Bonnie Hoose o' Airlie' exists somewhere as a Midi but I'll do a search.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Culloden or Drummossie Moor
From: Jim McLean
Date: 18 Mar 05 - 01:51 PM

I'm sorry, the tune should be 'Wae's me for Prince Chairlie'. I wrote the song so long ago that I forgot the title! Maybe Joe could ammend my Lyric posting?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Culloden or Drummossie Moor
From: Jim McLean
Date: 18 Mar 05 - 01:54 PM

I found the tune here http://chrsouchon.free.fr/bonniepr.htm
Sorry for all the messing about.

Subject: 'Wae's me for Prince Chairlie'
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 05 - 05:20 PM