[Thomas McDonald]

The Battle of Killiecrankie was fought in 1689 in the first Jacobite Uprising in 1689 (those in 1715 and 1745 are more well known). Casualties on both sides were considerable. John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, (Clavers) led the charge against General Hugh MacKay and won the day, but died in the battle.

* The first three verses and chorus were written by Robert Burns in 1789.

Killiecrankie

Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?
Whaur hae ye been sae brankie-o?
Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?
Come 'ye by Killiecrankie-o?

An' ye had been whaur I hae been
Ye wadna been sae cantie-o
An' ye had seen what I hae seen
On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o

I fought at land, I fought at sea
At hame I fought my auntie-o
But I met the Devil and Dundee
On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o

The bauld pit cur fell in a furr
And Clavers gat a crankie-o
Or I had fed an Athol gled
On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o

Oh fie, MacKay, What gart ye lie
I' the brush ayont the brankie-o?
Ye'd better kiss'd King Willie's lofe
Than come tae Killiecrankie-o

It's nae shame, it's nae shame
It's nae shame to shank ye-o
There's sour slaes on Athol braes
And the de'ils at Killiecrankie-o

Meaning of unusual words:
braw=excellent, brave
cantie=cheerful
braes=hillsides
furr=furrow
gled=buzzardbrankie=violence
lofe=honour
shank=walk
slaes=blackthorns

http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_killiecrankie.htm

Burns Original

Chorus
An ye had been whare I hae been,
Ye wad na been sae cantie, O!
An ye had seen what I hae seen
On the braes o' Killiecrankie, O!
1.
'Whare hae ye been sae braw, lad?
Whare hae ye been sae brankie, O?
Whare hae ye been sae braw, lad?
Cam ye by Killiecrankie, O?'
2.
I faught at land, I faught at sea,
At hame I faught my auntie, O;
But I met the Devil and Dundee
On the braes o' Killiecrankie, O!
3.
'The bauld Pitcur fell in a furr,
An' Clavers gat a clankie, O,
Or I had fed an Athole gled
On the braes o' Killiecrankie, O!

Standard English Translation

Chorus
If you had been where I have been,
You would not have been so jolly, O!
If you had seen what I have seen
On the hill sides of Killiecrankie, O!

'Where have you been so fine, lad?
Where have you been so spruce, O?
Where have you been so fine, lad?
Came you by Killiecrankie, O?'

I fought at land, I fought at sea,
At home I fought my auntie, O;
But I met the Devil and Dundee
On the hill sides of Killiecrankie, O!

The bold Pitcur fell in a furrow,
And Clavers got a knock, O,
Else I had fed an Athole hawk
On the hill sides of Killiecrankie, O!

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translati...rankie.htm

[Thomas McDonald]

'Blue Bonnets Over the Border' is a famous Scottish ballad which refers to Bonnie Prince Charlie's march into England in 1745. A blue bonnet or beret was a traditional piece of highland dress and due to the large highland composition of the Jacobite Army became associated with their faction. This was taken one stage further by affixing a white cockade to it, which was an official emblem of Jacobite affiliation. Today the march is still a popular military anthem, although it is especially favoured in Canada.

http://www.nls.uk/broadsides/broadside.cfm/id/16598

* These words are by Sir Walter Scott. They appear in The Monastery (1820).

Blue Bonnets Over the Border

March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale,
Why the deil dinna ye march forward in order?
March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale,
All the Blue Bonnets are bound for the Border.
Many a banner spread
Flutters above your.head,
Many a crest that is famous in story.
Mount and make ready then,
Sons of the mountain glen,
Fight for the Queen and the old Scottish glory.

Come from the hills where your hirsels are grazing,
Come from the glen of the buck and the roe;
Come to the crag where the beacon is blazing,
Come with the buckler, the lance, and the bow.
Trumpets are sounding,
War-steeds are bounding,
Stand to your arms then, and march in good order;
England shall many a day
Tell of the bloody fray,
When the Blue Bonnets came over the Border.

http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_border.htm