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‹Better GutenbergA Collection of BalladsThe Battle of Killie-Crankie · 23 of 56Contents›

A Collection of Ballads

by Andrew Lang

23 of 56 · Contents · Download EPUB

The Battle of Killie-Crankie

(Child, vol. vii. Early Edition.)

Clavers and his Highlandmen
   Came down upo’ the raw, man,
Who being stout, gave mony a clout;
   The lads began to claw then.
With sword and terge into their hand,
   Wi which they were nae slaw, man,
Wi mony a fearful heavy sigh,
   The lads began to claw then.

O’er bush, o’er bank, o’er ditch, o’er stark,
   She flang amang them a’, man;
The butter-box got many knocks,
   Their riggings paid for a’ then.
They got their paiks, wi sudden straiks,
   Which to their grief they saw, man:
Wi clinkum, clankum o’er their crowns,
   The lads began to fa’ then.

Hur skipt about, hur leapt about,
   And flang amang them a’, man;
The English blades got broken beads,
   Their crowns were cleav’d in twa then.
The durk and door made their last hour,
   And prov’d their final fa’, man;
They thought the devil had been there,
   That play’d them sic a paw then.

The Solemn League and Covenant
   Came whigging up the hills, man;
Thought Highland trews durst not refuse
   For to subscribe their bills then.
In Willie’s name, they thought nag ane
   Durst stop their course at a’, man,
But hur-nane-sell, wi mony a knock,
   Cry’d, “Furich—Whigs awa’,” man.

Sir Evan Du, and his men true,
   Came linking up the brink, man;
The Hogan Dutch they feared such,
   They bred a horrid stink then.
The true Maclean and his fierce men
   Came in amang them a’, man;
Nane durst withstand his heavy hand.
   All fled and ran awa’ then.

Oh’ on a ri, Oh’ on a ri,
   Why should she lose King Shames, man?
Oh’ rig in di, Oh’ rig in di,
   She shall break a’ her banes then;
With furichinish, an’ stay a while,
   And speak a word or twa, man,
She’s gi’ a straike, out o’er the neck,
   Before ye win awa’ then.

Oh fy for shame, ye’re three for ane,
   Hur-nane-sell’s won the day, man;
King Shames’ red-coats should be hung up,
   Because they ran awa’ then.
Had bent their brows, like Highland trows,
   And made as lang a stay, man,
They’d sav’d their king, that sacred thing,
   And Willie’d ran awa’ then.

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