Lyr Req: Atholl Highlanders (Battlefield Band

12 Oct 99 - 11:26 PM (#123272)
Subject: Atholl Highlanders (Battlefield Band)
From: Jennifer Burdoo ([e-mail]

Heard this on a couple of their collections. A few of the lyrics (which as usual, are hard to transcribe; why do you think I need help? :) --

(The parentheses are my guesses on these words.)

Wha will ride wi' gallant Murray? Wha will ride wi' Geordie (Sell?) He's the flower of the (highlands?) And the darling of (Dungell?) See the white rose in his bonnet See his banner o'er the Tay (next two lines unintelligible)

And that's the chorus. Not sure where to go next and I also think there are other names for this song. Hope someone can help.

Jennifer

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13 Oct 99 - 04:33 PM (#123552)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Atholl Highlanders (Battlefield Band
From: sophocleese

I only know it as a bagpipe tune. I'll ask my husband when he gets home.

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14 Oct 99 - 03:39 AM (#123743)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE ATHOLL GATHERING (Battlefield Band)
From: Wolfgang

Jennifer, here is it from the Battlefield Band songbook, enjoy (I fully understand why even a native speaker wouldn't try to transcribe this):

Wolfgang

THE ATHOLL GATHERING
(trad.; source: Battlefield Band, Forward with Scotland's past)

Wha will ride wi' gallant Murray, wha will ride for Geordie's sel'.
He's the flower o' Glenisla and the darlin' o' Dunkeld.
See the white rose on his bonnet, see his banner o'er the Tay.
His guid sword he now has drawn it and has flung the sheath away.

Every faithful Murray follows, first of heroes, best of men.
Every true and trusty Stuart blythely leaves his native glen.
Atholl lads are lads of honour, westland rogues are rebels a'.
When we come within their border we may gar the Campbells claw.

Menzies he's our friend and brother, Gask and Strowan arnae slack.
Noble Perth has ta'en the field and a' the Drummonds at his back.
Let us ride wi' gallant Murray, let us fight for Charlie's crown.
From the right we'll never sinder till the tyrants are brought down.

MacIntosh the gallant soldier wi' the Grahams and Gordons gay,
they have ta'en the field of honour spite of all their chiefs could say.
Bend the musket, point the rapier, shift the brogue for hielan' shoe,
scour the dirk and face the danger, MacIntosh has all to do.

from the Battlefield Band's notes: "...taken from an anonymous Jacobite poem written in 1745. Lord George Murray joined with Prince Charlie's forces at Perth and became Lieutenant General of the Jacobite army."

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