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652 OUR FAMILIAR SONGS. |
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When on yon muir our gallant clan
Frae boasting foes their banners tore, Who showed himsel' a better man.
Or fiercer waved the red claymore ? But when in peace — then mark me there,
When through the glen the wanderer came, I gave him o' our hardy fare,
I gave him here a welcome hame.
The auld will speak, the young maun hear,
Be cantie, but be guid and leal; Your ain ills aye ha'e heart to bear,
Anither's aye ha'e heart to feel. So, ere I set, I'll see you shine,
I'll see you triumph e'er I fa'; My parting breath shall boast you mine,
Good night, and joy be wi' ye a'.
Burns, in a letter written at the happiest period of his life, says: " Ballad-making is now as completely my hobby as ever fortification was Uncle Toby's; so I'll e'en canter away till I come to the limit of my race (God grant that I may take the right side of the winning-post), and then, cheerfully looking back on the honest folks with whom I have been happy, I shall say or sing ' Sae merry as we a' ha'e been," and raising my last looks to the whole of the human race, the last words of the voice of Coha shall be ' Good night, and joy be wi' ye aV
This is the closing stanza of Lady Nairne's version of the song:
My harp, fareweel 1 thy strains are past,
Of gleefu' mirth, and heartfelt wae; The voice of song maun cease at last,
And minstrelsy itsel' decay. But, oh ! where sorrow canna win,
Nor parting tears are shed ava', May we meet neighbor, kith and kin,
And joy for aye be wi' us a'! |
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