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THE GALLANT
MURRAY
Traditional
Wha will ride wi' gallant Murray
Wha will ride for Geordie's sel'
He's the flower o' Glen Isla
And the darlin' o' Dunkeld
See the white rose in his bonnet
See his banner o'er the Tay
His guid sword he now has drawn it
And has flung his sheath away
Every faithfu' Murray follows
First of heroes, best of men
Every true and trusty Stewart
Blythely leaves his native glen
Athol lads are lads of honour
Westland rogues are rebels a'
When we come within their border
We may gar the Campbell's claw
Menzies he's our friend and brother
Gask and Strowan are nae slack
Noble Perth has ta'en the field
And a' the Drummonds at his back
Let us ride wi' gallant Murray
Let us fight for Charlie's crown
From the right we'll never sinder
Til we bring the tyrants down
MacIntosh the gallant sodger
Wi' the Grahams and Gordons gay
They have ta'en the field of honour
Spite of all their chiefs could say
Point the musket Bend the rapier
Shift the brog for Lowland shoe
Scour the durk and face the danger
MacIntosh has all to do
Repeat first verse
Footnote: A song about the byous Lord George Murray, the outstanding
Jacobite commander, which was published in Hogg’s Jacobite Relics. Lord
George Murray (1694-1760), son of John Murray, 1st Duke of
Atholl. Was out in both the 15 and 19 Jacobite Ridings and after a few
years fighting abroad he was pardoned and returned to Scotland in the
late 1720s. In spite of many reservations he joined Prince Charles
Edward Stewart in Perth during the 45 Rising. His relationship with the
Prince was always fragile, In spite of the comment by Fitzroy Maclean
that Lord George was “the military genius of the 45”, the Prince
listened to others!. He proved his military skill at Prestonpans, the
retreat from Derby and Clifton, and the last major Jacobite victory at
Falkirk, Murray didn’t want to fight at Culloden, but the right wing,
under his command, was the only section to leave the field in reasonably
good order and he proceeded to Ruthven. On receiving the order to
disband he went to France and died in exile in 1760. I have little time
for BPC but hold Lord George Murray, and the men who fought out of
loyalty and for Scotland, in the highest regard. |
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