Swan Arcade - Baron of Brackley

From the Child_Ballads, a sobering tale of medieval Scottish married life.

"It is believed the incident occurred in September 1666, but what the ballad does not tell us is that it is a reprisal raid by John Farquharson of Inverey on John Gordon of Brackley for a cattle raid."

From Dee side came Inverey whistlin' and playin'
And he is to Brackley's gates ere the day is dawnin'
Saying, Baron O'Brackley oh are ye within?
There are sharp swords at your gates, to gar your bluid spin

Oh rise up my husband and turn back your kye
For the lads frae Dunmurray are driving them by
Oh how might I rise up and turn them again
For where I have one man I'm sure he has ten

If I had a husband the like I have nane
He'd no lie in his bed and watch his kye ta'en
Then up spake the baron, said gi'e me my sword
There's nae a man in Scotland but I'll brave at a word

Then the baron were buskit to ride o'er the close
A gallanter Gordon ne'er mounted a horse
Saying, kiss me, my Peggy, dinna think me tae blame
For I maun go oot, love, and I'll never come hame

There rode wi' false Inverey full thirty and three
But along wi' bonny Brackley just his brother and he
Twa gallanter Gordons did ne'er the sword draw
But against three and thirty, wae's me, what is twa?

Wi' swords and wi' daggers they did him surround
And they pierced bonny Brackley wi' monys a wound
Tae the banks o the Dee, tae the sides of the Spey
Oh the Gordons will mourn him and will ban Inverey

Oh came ye from Brackley's yetts, oh came ye by there?
And saw ye his Peggy a-rivin' her hair
Aye, I came by Brackley's yetts, I came by there
And I saw his bonny Peggy she was makin' good cheer

She was rantin', she was dancin', she was singin' wi' joy
And she swears this same nicht she will feast Inverey
She laughed wi' him, danced wi' him, welcomed him in
And lay wi' him till morning he who slew her good man

There's grief in the kitchen, there's mirth in the hall
For the Baron o Brackley lies dead and awa'
Then up spake his son on his own nurse's knee
If I live to be a man 'tis avenged I'll be

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Swan
• Arcade
• Child
• Ballad
• Baron
• of
• Brackley
• scottish
• music

[davytheravy]

Great song - How I wish Swan Arcade were still on the go .......