Lyr Req: Bannockburn

Subject: Lyr Req: Bannockburn
From: Tam the man
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 07:31 AM

My name is Tom Hamilton

I am looking for the words to a song written by Matt McGinn called 'Bannockburn' The corries rrecoreded it in 1977.

Thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bannockburn
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 05:28 PM

It is on 'Live from Scotland, vol 4', which I bought at Oxfam last year. I haven't got round to taking down the lyrics but will do my best next weekend if nobody beats me to it.

Subject: Lyr Add: BANNOCKBURN
From: Doug
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 07:11 PM

I've been trying for some time to get the last few words of the third line, verse 1, Roy sings them so fast, but you're welcome to the rest of my efforts:


BANNOCKBURN
^^
In 1314, the twenty-fourth of June
King Eddie says "We're ready now to steal the stone of Scone"
He brought his biggest army but discovered he'd (?backed a goose?)
At Bannockburn he found that he was up against a Bruce

CHORUS:
Well, we raised our pipes and the English kept a-coming
But they werena quite so happy when we gie'd the pipes a blaw
Struck once more, they began a-running
Ready steady Eddie, go, it's time to shoot the craw

Well, we had a bowl of porridge and a wee bit pinch of salt
We had a dram of whisky and it was the finest malt
We each wore a tammy and we wore the philibegs
Eddie was in terror when he seen the hairy legs
CHORUS

Now poor King Edward, nearly had a fit
When he seen his cavalry falling doon a pit
His men looked up from the trap that Bruce had built
And they were shocked to find out what was worn beneath the kilt
CHORUS

He sent for his archers, a group of country folk
They erred and they purred, what a funny way they spoke
With those archers Eddie had a go
But they were as effective as the ones on radio
CHORUS

On the fastest horse that you ever saw
King Eddie went a-racing o'er the Border and awa
He was fond of Scotland, but he never did return
He didn't like the welcome that he got at Bannockburn
CHORUS


"backed a goose" just sounds so, so wrong. And I'm pretty sure he sings "a Bruce" and not "the Bruce" as you'd expect.

Doug

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bannockburn
From: GUEST,theBalladeer
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 07:23 PM

"Backed a duece" The rest look ok...Matt sang it slightly different and much slower than the Corries.

It sounds more like "erged and berged, what a funny way they spoke" to me.

Nick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bannockburn
From: GUEST,Seonaid
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 09:48 PM

Our gang of re-enactors has always sung the chorus as,
"We raised our *pikes* and the English kept a-comin'...."
(and they did keep a-coming, silly fellows that they were).

Also, I like to think the funny way to spoke bit is
"they r-r-r'd and they br-r-r'd..."
...which sounds more like how my Lallans friends *do* speak!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bannockburn
From: Doug
Date: 19 Jul 05 - 09:26 AM

"rrrd" and "brrrd" makes sense, as does the "backed a duece". Thanks.

The goose image was too bizarre to contemplate.

"pikes" would also conceivably fit, and I suppose would be just as incongruous as the pipes, porridge and tammys!

Thanks

Doug

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bannockburn
From: goatfell
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 06:55 AM

thank you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bannockburn
From: theballadeer
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 07:23 PM

Matt's own version is great...though not on any official release. I do have a recorded version of Matt singing it. Gaberlunzie also recorded the song recently on Gaberlunzie in Glenfarg, with additional final verse that I am fairly sure was written by Gordon Menzies.

Nick