The laddies by the banks o' Nith


The Laddies by the banks o' Nith Wad trust his Grace wi a', Jamie; But he'll sair them, as he sair'd the King Turn tail and rin awa', Jamie. Up and waur them a', Jamie, Up and waur them a'; The Johnstones hae the guidin o't, Ye turncoat Whigs awa! The day he stude his country's friend, Or gied her faes a claw, Jamie, Or frae puir man a blessin wan, That day the Duke ne'er saw, Jamie. But wha is he, his country's boast? Like him there is na twa, Jamie; There's no a callant tents the kye, But kens o' Westerha', Jamie. To end the wark, here's Whistlebirk, Lang may his whistle blaw, Jamie; And Maxwell true, o' sterling blue; And we'll be Johnstones a', Jamie. Up and waur them a', Jamie, Up and waur them a'; The Johnstones hae the guidin o't, Ye turncoat Whigs, awa!

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Phyllida Law

About this work

This is a poem by Robert Burns. It was written in 1789 and is read here by Phyllida Law.

Themes for this poem

jacobitismwarnature

Selected for 11 October

The successor poem to yesterday's selection is another ballad inspired by the Dumfries election of October 1789. Baronet Johnstone was one of the candidates.

Donny O'Rourke

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