by Anne Grant (1755 - 1838)
Killiecrankie
Language: English
When Willy Pitt, as he thought fit, Did rule and guide us a', man, And furious War his iron car Drove o'er the nations a', man; Then Buonaparte e'en took a start To visit Africa, man: -- The Malta knights, those feckless wights, Resistance made but sma', man. While on their rocks, the Gallic cocks Did stoutly strut and craw, man; The reaver band despoil'd the land, Took a' their gear awa', man; Wi' saints of gowd, in siller row'd, O wow but they were braw, man! The isles of Greece they next did fleece; Sic rugging ye ne'er saw, man. Gie him a bield in that same field Where Israel gather'd straw, man, 'Twas one to ten but he came ben As far as Mecca's wa', man. Our Monarch's nod, like Neptune's rod, That sways the ocean a', man, Sent out a fleet their ships to meet, Near Alexandria, man. At Aboukir, withouten fear, As Nelson's line did draw, man, His hearts of oak their hawsers broke, They did na wait to jaw, man; Tri-colour'd flags came down like rags, Where Nelson's guns did ca', man, Till glory's light sae drown'd his sight, 'Twas utter darkness a', man! The Mamalukes came frae their nooks, To see the low sae braw, man; On wings of flame, high mounted Fame, And loud her trump did blaw, man, 'Till Gallic faith, and a' their skaith, Was kent in Asia a', man; And Nelson's fame and Britain's name Rejoic'd and fear'd them a', man.
Glossary
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Feckless = feeble, weak
Reaver = robber, pirate
Gear = riches, goods of any kind
Gowd = gold
Siller = silver
Braw = fine, handsome
Rugging = taking away by force
Bield = shelter
He came ben = he advanced
Skaith = hurt and damage suffered
Authorship:
- by Anne Grant (1755 - 1838) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Killiecrankie", Hob. XXXIa:169, JHW. XXXII/3 no. 244. [voice and piano] [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2009-07-15
Line count: 40
Word count: 250