Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Killiecrankie

Robert Burns

“Killiecrankie” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 54 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

Clavers and his Highlandmen

Came down upon the raw, man;

Who, being stout, gpve mony a shout;

The lads began to claw, then.

Wi' sword and targe into their hand,

Wi' which they were na slaw, man;

Wi' mony a fearfu' heavy sigh,

The lads began to claw, then.

Ower bush, ower bank, ower ditch, ower stank,

She flang amang them a', man;

The butter-box gat mony knocks;

Their riggings paid for a', then.

They got their paiks wi' sudden straiks,

Which, to their grief they saw, man;

Wi' clinkum-clankum ower their crowns,

The lads began to fa', then.

Her leap'd about, her skipp'd about,

And flang amang them a', man;

The English blades got broken heads,

Their crowns were cleaved in twa, then;

The durk and dour made their last hour,

And proved their final fa', man;

They thocht the devil had been there,

That play'd them sic a pa', man.

The Solemn League and Covenant

Cam' whigging up the hill, man;

Thocht Highland trews durst not refuse

For to subscribe their bill, then:

In Willie's name, they thocht nae ane

Durst stop their course at a', man;

But her-nain-sell, wi' mony a knock,

Cried, Furich, Whigs, awa', man.

Sir Evan Dhu, and his men true,

Cam' linking up the brink, man;

The Hoggan Dutch, they feared such,

They bred a horrid stink, then.

The true Maclean, and his fierce men,

Cam' in amang them a', man;

Nane durst withstand his heavy hand;

A' fled and ran awa', then.

Och on a righ! och on a righ!

Why should she lose king Shames, man?

Och rig in di! och rig in di!

She shall break a' her banes, then;

With furichinich, and stay a while,

And speak a word or twa, man;

She's gi'e ye a straik out ower the neck,

Before ye win awa', then.

Oh, fle for shame, ye're three for ane!

Her-nain-sell's won the day, man.

King Shames' red-coats should be hung up,

Because they ran awa', then.

Had they bent their bows like Highland trews,

And made as lang a stay, man,

They'd saved their king, that saered thing,

And Willie 'd run awa', then.

Verse 2

Wherr ha'e ye been sae braw, lad?

Where ha'e ye been sae brankie, O?

Where ha'e ye been sae braw, lad?

Cam' ye by Killiecrankie, O?

An ye had been where I ha'e been,

Ye wadna been sae cantie, O,

An ye had seen what I ha'e seen

On the braes o' Killiecrankie, O.

I've faught at land, I've faught at sea;

At hame I faught my auntie, O;

But I met the deevil and Dundee,

On the braes o' Killiecrankie, O!

The bauld Pitcur fell in a fur,

And Claverse gat a clankie, O;

Or I had fed an Athole gled,

On the braes o' Killiecrankie O.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. 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, “Killiecrankie”

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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