BONNIE BLUE

Blaring trumpets sounded far
Horseman rade their graith tae war   (harness, equipment)
The English cam up frae Dunbar
Upon the misty morning
Prince Charlie wi' the Hieland host
Lay westward on the Lothian coast.
Johnny bragged wi' many's the boast   (English General John Cope)
He'd roust them all next morning.

chorus
Round, round ye gang blind crew
This morning's work ye lang will rue
The bonnie blue bonnets are after you
Tae wish ye's a good morning.

Lang ere the cock proclaimed the day
The Prince's men stood in array.
Though impatient for the fray,
Bent low the knee that morning.
When "row dow dow" on the English drum,
The Hieland bagpipe gae'd a' bumb
And told the mountain clans had come
Grim death and danger scorning

Ilk hand was firm, ilk heart was true,
A shot and doun their guns they threw,
Forth their dreaded claymores drew
Upon that fearful morning.
The English raised a loud Huzzah!
But dare nae bide the brunt of all.   (didn't wait to receive the Highland Charge)
They wavered, turned, then ran awa'
Like sheep at shepherds' horning.

What sad mishap that few befell
When feinted, groaned the battle yell
Still Gardiner fought and fighting fell
Upon that fatal morning.
Nae braggart but a soldier, he
Wad scorn wi' coward loons tae flee
And fell beneath the auld thorn tree,
Upon that fearsome morning.

Fast, fast, their foot and horsemen flew
Caps were mixed wi' bonnie blue
Dirks were wet, but no wi' dew,
Upon that fatal morning.
Few stayed save thy devoted band
Tae bide the brunt of Hieland clans
That swept around, lopped head and hand
Upon that fatal morning.

To boast of deeds becomes us ill,
Yet Scotland has her border still,
Be there some who'd had their will,
For want of thought or learning.
The Roman Legions tried in vain,
The Saxon, Dane and Norseman came,
Nane o' them could us contain,
So heed this gentle warning.

Round, round ye gang blind crew
The bonnie blue bonnets are after you
But all we really want to do,
Is wish ye's a good morning!