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Lyr ADD: Culloden's Harvest (Alastair McDonald)

18 Mar 97 - 04:35 AM (#3209)
Subject: Culloden's Harvest
From: stunts19@mail.idt.net

I would really like to find the lyrics to Culloden's Harvest. I have it on CD (Celtic Legacy). Thank You.

20 Mar 97 - 07:31 AM (#3286)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: CULLODEN'S HARVEST (A McDonald)
From: alison

CULLODEN'S HARVEST
Alastair McDonald
Arr. Deanta 
 CHORUS    

 Em         D                  C        Bm
  Cold the winds on the moors blow
   Em            D           C    Bm
  Warm, the enemy's fire glows
  G              A         C        Em
  Black the harvest of Culloden
  C              Bm         C       Em
  Pain, and fear, and death grow.
  
              Em             D                       C               G
  'Twas love of our prince drove us on to Drummossy
              Em              Bm            C
  But in scarcely the time that it takes me to tell
          Em                 D                C                     G
  The flower of our country lay scorched by an army
        Em               Bm          C
  As ruthless and red as the embers of hell.
  
  CHORUS
  
  Red Campbell, the false, did the work of the English
  McDonald in anger did no work at all
  With musket and cannon 'gainst honour and courage
  The invader's men stood while our clansmen did fall.
  
  CHORUS
  
  Now mothers and children are left to their weeping
  With only the memory of father and son
  Turned out of their homes to make shelter for strangers
  The blackest of hours on this land has begun.
  
  CHORUS


https://mudcat.org/alanofoz/culloden.mid

13 Apr 97 - 05:01 PM (#4585)
Subject: RE: Culloden's Harvest
From: kate

Does anyone have a leadsheet of this song? At least a melody line? Thanks

18 Dec 97 - 05:12 PM (#17880)
Subject: LYR REQ: Culloden's Harvest
From: E. Johnson

Does anyone have the lyrics for "Culloden's Harvest"? It was written by Alastair McDonald, and recorded by Deanta.

thanks, ej

18 Dec 97 - 10:10 PM (#17917)
Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Culloden's Harvest
From: Alan of Australia

G'day,
Words and music should arrive here this weekend, probably via Alison - she & I sing this occasionally in Sydney folk clubs.

Cheers,
Alan

19 Dec 97 - 12:06 AM (#17920)
Subject: Lyr Add: CULLODEN'S HARVEST (Alastair McDonald)
From: alison

Hi,

I think there was a thread on this one a few months back.

CULLODEN'S HARVEST
Alastair McDonald
Arr. Deanta 

CHORUS
  Em         D                  C        Bm
  Cold the winds on the moors blow
  Em            D           C    Bm
  Warm, the enemy's fire glows
  G              A         C        Em
  Black the harvest of Culloden
  C              Bm         C       Em
  Pain, and fear, and death grow.
'Twas love of our prince drove us on to Drummossy
But in scarcely the time that it takes me to tell
The flower of our country lay scorched by an army
As ruthless and red as the embers of hell. CHORUS

Red Campbell, the false, did the work of the English
McDonald in anger did no work at all
With musket and cannon 'gainst honour and courage
The invader's men stood while our clansmen did fall. CHORUS

Now mothers and children are left to their weeping
With only the memory of father and son
Turned out of their homes to make shelter for strangers
The blackest of hours on this land has begun. CHORUS

Much as I would like to send you the music I can't find where the computer has put the text file, but I'll see Alan tonight so we should be able to sort it out.

Slainte

Alison

HTML preformat commands added. --JoeClone, 31-May-02.

05 Jan 98 - 01:01 PM (#18736)
Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Culloden's Harvest
From: ej

Hey Alison and Alan,

Thanks for the lyrics; that "did no work at all" was making me a bit crazy. One of my goals is to get to Australia and soak up as much folk music as possible. How would a person go about finding you two in Sydney?

Thanks again, and thanks to Mudcat for an essential site.

ej

05 Jan 98 - 06:05 PM (#18750)
Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Culloden's Harvest
From: alison

Hi ej,

Sydney is a HUGE place, however Alan and I live about 15 mins from each other and tend to travel around quite a bit to get to the various folk clubs over here. Our local club (run by Alan) is just a few minutes away. If you ever make it over here let us know, we'll be able to arrange something.

slainte

Alison

05 Feb 01 - 03:41 AM (#390236)
Subject: Culloden's Harvest
From: GMT

Hi all.

The song Culloden's Harvest in the archive doesn't credit an author, but I have seen Alastair MacDonald given as the writer when I've searched elsewhere.

I know that AN Alastair MacDonald was head of the MacDonald clan at Glen Coe and is contemporary with the battle but is this the man credited with the song ?>br>
I know you lot will tell me there is another A MacDonald who if I were better read would know about.

Prime aim really; is the song copyright or PD

Cheers Gary

05 Feb 01 - 08:26 AM (#390294)
Subject: RE: Help: Culloden's Harvest
From: Malcolm Douglas

It's a modern song (a contemporary account would have a very different style both of words and melody), made by Alastair MacDonald, who has recorded it himself.  (Velvet and Steel, Greentrax CDTRA XD78).  Very much still in copyright!

Malcolm

05 Feb 01 - 09:14 AM (#390312)
Subject: RE: Help: Culloden's Harvest
From: JedMarum

it is a wonderful song. A lovely melody with some surprising turns, and powerful lyrics.

05 Feb 01 - 09:42 AM (#390336)
Subject: RE: Help: Culloden's Harvest
From: GMT

Malcolm, thanks I assumed as much. If this is the quality of MacDonalds writing I'll have to search him out. I must admit I didn't know of him. But interesting coincidence of names.

Yes Jed superb melody and strong lyrics.

Thanks folks for your input, appreciated.

cheers Gary

06 Oct 05 - 06:38 AM (#1576970)
Subject: RE: Help: Culloden's Harvest
From: GUEST,Alastair McDonald

Thanks to Malcolm Douglas for keeping folks up to speed on my song. It`s appearing quite erroneously on some websites as "Traditional 19th Century..." & where people find the confidence to put such spurious non-information into the public gaze, beats me.

Thanks to all who endeavour to correct this.

Alastair
Corban Recordings
PO BOX 2 Glasgow G44 3LB
Scotland
alastair@corbanrecordings.com

06 Oct 05 - 06:35 PM (#1577530)
Subject: RE: Help: Culloden's Harvest
From: GUEST,Tam

This is a much better song also recorded by Alastair McDonald about 20 years before he wrote his own song.



CULLODEN or DRUMMOSIE MOOR
Words Jim McLean 1963
Tune: Wae's me for Prince Chairlie (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' dressed 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.

06 Apr 06 - 11:52 AM (#1711931)
Subject: RE: Culloden's Harvest (Alastair McDonald)
From: GUEST,Alastair McDonald

Hi gang

This song is NOT traditional, but written by me; the (correct) lyrics can be got from alastair@corbanrecordings.com & is copyright with Corban Music/MCPS-PRS Alliance. It was erroneously put on the `net as traditional & has been enthusiastically spread as such so please note, words by me, tune completely re-written from a trad source, likewise by me. All enquiries welcome.

Regards

Alastair.

Alastair McDonald
Corban Recordings PO Box 2 Glasgow G44 3LB
www.corbanrecordings.com
Tel 0141 637 5277

06 Apr 06 - 11:57 AM (#1711937)
Subject: RE: Culloden's Harvest (Alastair McDonald)
From: MMario

noted for harvesters.
    Noted in the DT Attributions thread.
    -Joe Offer-

09 Nov 06 - 02:57 PM (#1880456)
Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Culloden's Harvest
From: GUEST

Great Song!