Henry's Songbook

Up and waur them a', Willie(waur - warn)
Up and waur them a'
Up and sell your sour milk
And dance, and ding them a'

When we went tae the field o' war and tae the weaponshaw
Wi' true design to serve our kind and chase our faes awa'
Lairds and lords cam there bedeen, and wow gin they were sma'
While pipers played frae right tae left, Fy, furich Whigs awa'
And when our army was drawn up, the bravest e'er I saw
We did nae doubt tae rax the rout and win the day and a'
Out owre the brae it wisnae play to get sae hard a fa'
While pipers played frae right tae left, Fy, furich Whigs awa'

When brawly they attacked our left, our front, and flank, and a'
Our bauld commander on the green our faes their left did ca'
And there the greatest slaughter made that e'er poor Donald saw
While pipers played frae right tae left, Fy, furich Whigs awa'

And when they saw our Highland mob, they swore they'd slay us a'
And yet ane fyl'd his breeks for fear, and so did rin awa'
We drave them back tae Bonnybriggs, dragoons and foot and a'
While pipers played frae right tae left, Fy, furich Whigs awa'

But when their general viewed our lines and them in order saw
He straight did march into the town and back his left did draw
Thus we taught them the better gate to get a better fa'
While pipers played frae right tae left, Fy, furich Whigs awa'

And then we rallied on the hills and bravely up did draw
But gin ye speir wha wan the day I'll tell you what I saw
We baith did fight, and baith were beat, and baith did rin awa'
So there's my canty Hieland sang about the things I saw

(as sung by The Battlefield Band)

[1981:] This song is one of several on the subject of the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715 which both sides claimed to have won. The tune used here was composed by Alan. (Notes Battlefield Band, 'Home Is Where the Van Is')

[1988:] [One of Burns'] earliest exercises in the form, [this appeared] in the second volume of 'The Scots Musical Museum' published in March 1788 and [showed] a typical blend of fresh composition and brilliantly opportunistic borrowing from the past. (Donaldson, Song 78)