Search just our sites by using our customised search engine

Unique Cottages | Electric Scotland's Classified Directory

Click here to get a Printer Friendly PageSmiley

SUCH A PARCEL OF ROGUES IN A NATION
Robert Burns

Gaberlunzie - Scots Independent CD
Click here to listen to this song in Real Audio by Gaberlunzie

Fareweel to a' our Scottish fame,
Fareweel our ancient glory;
Fareweel ev'n to the Scottish name,
Sae fam'd in martial story.
Now Sark rins over Solway sands,
An' Tweed rins to the ocean,
To mark where England's province stands-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

What force or guile could not subdue,
Thro' many warlike ages,
Is wrought now by a coward few,
For hireling traitor's wages.
The English stell we could disdain,
Secure in valour's station;
But English gold has been our bane-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

O would, or I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My auld grey head had lien in clay,
Wi' Bruce and loyal Wallace!
But pith and power, till my last hour,
I'll mak this declaration;
We're bought and sold for English gold-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

Footnote : The Act of Union between Scotland and England came into force on 1st May 1707. As this anti-Union song by Robert Burns points out the Union was brought about by bribery and corruption. There was also a military threat, as England's General Wade sat on their side of the Border ready to invade if The Three Estates vote had gone against the incorporating Union. I happily raise a glass to 'The cassin o the Wanchancie Covenant!' ( see Scots Sayings in Scots Language Feature ).

 


This comment system requires you to be logged in through either a Disqus account or an account you already have with Google, Twitter, Facebook or Yahoo. In the event you don't have an account with any of these companies then you can create an account with Disqus. All comments are moderated so they won't display until the moderator has approved your comment.

comments powered by Disqus

Quantcast