Lenachan's Farewell

     These words were written in the time after Culloden, when many loyal to the Stuart cause fled abroad.  The words were matched to an old Highland air. 

Fare thee wee!, my native cot,
Bothy o' the birken tree!
Sair the heart and hard the lot
0' the lad that parts wi' thee.
My good grandsire's hand thee reared,
Then the wicker work was full;
Mony a Campbell's glen he cleared,
Hit the buck and houghed the bull.

Never hand in thee yet bred
Kendna how the sword to wield;
Never heart of thee had dread
Of the foray or the field;
Ne'er on straw, mat, bulk, or bed,
Son of thine lay down to die;
Every lad within thee bred
Died beneath heaven's open e'e.

Charlie Stuart he came here
For our king, as right became;
Wha could shun the Bruce's heir?
Wha could tine our royal name?
Firm to stand, and free to fa',
Forth we marched right valiantly.
Gane is Scotland's king and law!
Woe to the Highlands and to me!

Freeman yet, I'11 scorn to fret.
Here nae langer I maun stay;
But when I my hame forget,
May my heart forget to play!
Fare thee well, my father's cot,
Bothy o' the birken tree!
Sair the heart and hard the lot
0' the lad that parts wi' thee.

The midi was sequenced by Lesley Nelson-Burns 
 
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