The Corries --- The Battle O' Harlow

[Djolemg]

Anybody got lyrics for this?

[TheCronoxlr]

I'm probably off from what they were singing, but this is what I get from the song.

And come frae the hielands man, Come ye all the way,

Saw ye MacDonald and a his men, as they come in frae Skye,

Wi a drinum a dru ana dree ana drum, drinum a dru drum dre,

And come ye near of near eneuch did ye their numbers see,

Come tell to me young hieland man what might their numbers be,

Wi a drinum a dru ana dree ana drum, drinum a dru drum dre,

[TheCronoxlr]

Well I come in by the county line, doon by Netherha,

I saw MacDonald and all his men, a marchin tae Harlaw,

Wi a drinum a dru ana dree ana drum, drinum a dru drum dre,

The hieland men were there wi their long swords, they laid on us fu sair,

An drove back wi? lala? men three acres bredth an mair,

Wi a drinum a dru ana dree ana drum, drinum a dru drum dre,

Lord Forbes tae his brother did say, Oh brother dinna ya see,

They've drove us back on ilka side and we'll be forced to flee,

[TheCronoxlr]

Wi a drinum a dru ana dree ana drum, drinum a dru drum dre,

Oh no no no my brother dear, this thing it mayna a be,

You'll tack your good sword in your hand, and you'll go in with me!

Wi a drinum a dru ana dree ana drum, drinum a dru drum dre,

The first blow that lord Forbes struck, the sword ran in an hell,

The second blow Lord Forbes struck, the great MacDonald fell,

Wi a drinum a dru ana dree ana drum, drinum a dru drum dre,

[TheCronoxlr]

Sic a clie frae among the hieland men, when they se their leader fall,

They carted him and burried him, along by fair Harlaw,

Wi a drinum a dru ana dree ana drum, drinum a dru drum dre,

Gin anyane should spier at ye, for them that's gone awa,

Just tell plain and eneuch plain, they're sleepin at Harlaw,

Wi a drinum a dru ana dree ana drum, drinum a dru drum dre,

[TheCronoxlr]

@TheCronoxlr I've also found a set of lyrics that are a (lot) more comprehensive, but not the Corries version of the song at

folkinfo org/

songs

/displaysong.php

?songid=306

You're going to need to fix the syntax of the link.

[Dan3va]

@proudaltome its a bodhran

[Stvmulligan]

Ach its an unco song when we rebuild the Wa

[drummerlead]

I was wondering of the Battle of Culloden in 1745. Is there a battle song relating to that one the Corries did?

[SkyeSpirit]

@drummerlead 1746 lol. I can't seem to find much relating to Culloden but the Corries covered 'Ye Jacobites by name' which is an old traditional folk song relating to the Jacobite risings in general. :)

[GRAILKNIGHTPARZIFAL]

Grand tune!!

[macghillie]

You'll find the entire version, in the book - Scottish & Border Battles & Ballads by Michael Brander,

[BytheBeardofYmir]

I can't find lyrics of this version of the song, it seems to have more verses than those I can find on the internet, anyone have this version?

[1234549084]

This is the 600th anniversary oft the Battle

[LeetSKEETWeed]

i like this song

[ClothytheCat]

LOL, indeed, Harlaw, not Harlow.

The playing also sounds a bit speeded up, I don't know - was it ?

Great song though.

[alligatorgal]

This is great! I LOVE their bodhrans!!

[scottishshooey]

This song is I believe about a battle that happened just outside Inverurie in Aberdeenshire.

[masonicbrother688]

@scottishshooey Thats correct in the year 1411 the battle was a stale mate.

[gaconnochie]

@masonicbrother688 Both sides lost many but I wouldn't call it a stalemate as such. The Lowland army held the field against the Highland army which supposedly outnumbered the Lowlanders by five to one. And the next day the Lord of the Isles retreated back into the west.

[redarchibald]

Think you might find that this one's called 'Battle of Harlaw' or 'Red Harlaw'. Certainly didn't occur in the London Borough of Harlow. ;)

[0ldb1ll]

@redarchibald Not disquiet amongst the natives of Essex again then?