John Gibson Lockhart: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Broad Swords of Scotland

John Gibson Lockhart

“Broad Swords of Scotland” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

John Gibson Lockhart: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Now there's peace on the shore, now there's calm on the sea,

Fill a glass to the heroes whose swords kept us free,

Right descendants of Wallace, Montrose, and Dundee.

Oh, the broadswords of old Scotland!

And oh, the old Scottish broadswords.

Old Sir Ralph Abereromby, the good and the brave—

Let him flee from our board, let him sleep with the slave,

Whose libation comes slow while we honour his grave.

Oh, the broadswords, &c.

Though he died not like him amid victory's roar,

Though disaster and gloom wove his shroud on the shore,

Not the less we remember the spirit of Moore.

Oh, the broadswords, &c.

Yea, a place with the fallen the living shall claim,

We'll entwine in one wreath every glorious name,

The Gordon, the Ramsay, the Hope, and the Graham,

All the broadswords, &c.

Count the rocks of the Spey, count the groves of the Forth,

Count the stars in the clear cloudless heaven of the north,

Then go blazon their numbers, their names, and their worth,

All the broadswords, &c.

The highest in splendour, the humblest in place,

Stand united in glory, as kindred in race,

For the private is brother in blood to his grace.

Oh, the broadswords, &c.

Then sacred to each and to all let it be,

Fill a glass to the heroes whose swords kept us free,

Right descendants of Wallace, Montrose and Dundee,

Oh, the broadswords of Old Scotland!

And oh, the old Scottish broadswords!

Credits

Written by John Gibson Lockhart

Words by John Gibson Lockhart. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “Broad Swords of Scotland”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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