Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 09:38 PM

The original poem can be seen in Poems on Various Subjects by Anne MacVicar Grant* (Edinburgh: Printed for the author, 1803), page 407:

ON THE MARQUIS OF HUNTLY'S DEPARTURE FOR THE CONTINENT WITH HIS REGIMENT IN 1799.
AIR.—THE BLUE BELL OF SCOTLAND.

[The lyrics are identical to those posted by masato above, 13 Nov 05 - 02:22 AM]

[* Note: "Anne MacVicar Grant" is apparently the cataloguer's interpolation. The title page says "Mrs. Grant, Laggan"]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: GUEST,Burt Gilman
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 01:28 PM

It is indeed from the old Scottish song with the tune to the Blue Bells of Scotland.

Oh, where and oh where has my highland laddie gone,
oh where and oh where has my highland laddie gone,
he's gone to fight the foe for King George upon the throne,
but it's oh in my heart I wish him safe at home.

I remember singing this song in the third grade in 1933.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 05:55 PM

Guest, it is never enough to search the DT because so many lyrics and variants are buried in the Forum threads. So, if you go looking for something else, try both. Also, spelling may be a problem, so you should try out different spellings. Good hunting!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 10:00 AM

Thanks!

I did search the DT here and got no hits from the lyrics I quoted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: masato sakurai
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 02:33 AM

BLUE BELLS OF SCOTLAND is in the DT.

See also this thread: Anyone play 'The Bluebells of Scotland?'

Subject: Lyr Add: OH, WHERE, TELL ME WHERE?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 02:22 AM

From the Levy collection:

Title: The Blue Bell of Scotland. A Favorite Ballad.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: As Composed [sic] by Mrs. Jordan.
Publication: New York: G. Gilfert's Music Store, No.177 Broadway, n.d..
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: Oh! where and oh where is your Highland laddie gone
First Line of Chorus: and its O in my heart I wish him safe at home
Performer: as Sung by Mrs. Jordan at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

The original words by Mrs Anne Grant of Laggan, however, had no mention of "blue bell(s)":

OH, WHERE, TELL ME WHERE?

"Oh, where, tell me where, is your Highland laddie gone?
Oh, where, tell me where, is your Highland laddie gone?"
"He's gone, with streaming banners, where noble deeds are done,
And my sad heart will tremble, till he come safely home.
He's gone, with streaming banners, where noble deeds are done,
And my sad heart will tremble, till he come safely home."

"Oh, where, tell me where, did your Highland laddie stay?
Oh, where, tell me where, did your Highland laddie stay?"
"He dwelt beneath the holly-trees, beside the rapid Spey,
And many a blessing follow'd him, the day he went away.
He dwelt beneath the holly-trees, beside the rapid Spey,
And many a blessing follow'd him, the day he went away."

"Oh, where, tell me where, does your Highland laddie wear?
Oh, where, tell me where, does your Highland laddie wear?"
"A bonnet with a lofty plume, the gallant badge of war,
And a plaid across the manly breast that yet shall wear a star;
A bonnet with a lofty plume, the gallant badge of war,
And a plaid across the manly breast that yet shall wear a star."

"Suppose, ah, suppose, that some cruel, cruel wound,
Should pierce your Highland laddie, and all your hopes confound!"
"The pipe would play a cheering march, the banners round him fly,
The spirit of a Highland chief would lighten in his eye;
The pipe would play a cheering march, the banners round him fly:
And for his king and country dear with pleasure he would die!"

"But I will hope to see him yet, in Scotland's bonny bounds;
But I will hope to see him yet, in Scotland's bonny bounds.
His native land of liberty shall nurse his glorious wounds,
While, wide through all our Highland hills, his warlike name resounds;
His native land of liberty shall nurse his glorious wounds,
While, wide through all our Highland hills, his warlike name resounds."

(Source: Charles Rogers, ed., The Scottish Minstrel: The Songs of Scotland Subsequent to Burns, 2nd ed., Edinburgh: William P. Nimmo, [1870], 1872, pp. 32-33)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 01:46 AM

ref

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 12:10 AM

GUEST, PW

I found both with a google search using (no quotation marks)


He's gone to fight the foe for King George upon the throne


Try that and you'll get many 'hits' there.

All the best to you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 12:08 AM

18 The Blue Bells of Scotland
1. O where and o where is your Highland laddie gone?
O where and o where is your Highland laddie gone?
He's gone to fight the French for King George upon the throne,
And it's o, in my heart that I wish him safe at home.

2. O where, and o where, did your Highland laddie dwell?
O where, and o where, did your Highland laddie dwell?
He dwelt in merry Scotland at the sign of the blue bell;
And it's o, in my heart that I love my laddie well.

3. Suppose, and suppose that your Highland lad should die?
Suppose, and suppose that your Highland lad should die?
The bagpipes should play over him, I'd sit me down and cry,
And it's o, in my heart that I hope he will not die.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 12:05 AM

Published 1912

The Blue Bells of Scotland

Oh, where! and oh, where is your Highland laddie gone?
He's gone to fight the foe, for King George upon the throne;
And it's oh! in my heart, how I wish him safe at home!

oh, where! and oh, where does your Highland laddie dwell?
He dewlt in merry Scotland at the sign of the Blue Bell;
And it's oh! in my heart, that I love my laddie well.

What clothes, in what clothes is your Highland laddie clad?
His bonnet's Saxon green, and his waist-coat of the plaid;
And it's oh! in my heart, that I love my Highland lad.

Suppose, and suppose that your Highland lad should die?
The bagpipes should play o'er him, I'd lay me down and cry;
And it's oh! in my heart, that I wish he may not die.

Subject: Lyr Req: He's gone to fight the foe
From: GUEST,PW
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 12:03 AM

My parent's used to sing this song in grade school back in the 1930's. Neither of them can remember more than this two line snippet. If I can record them singing it, I will post that too. I do not recognize the tune.

"He's gone to fight the foe for King George upon the throne,
and it's oh and in my heart that I wish he may not die."

I've searched everywhere and everyway I can think. Anyone else have a clue?

PW