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Contains some strong language

Up and warn a' Willie


Up and warn a' Willie, Warn, warn a'; To hear my cantie Highland sang, Relate the thing I saw, Willie. When we gaed to the braes o' Mar, And to the wapon-shaw, Willie, Wi' true design to serve the king And banish whigs awa, Willie. Up and warn a' Willie, Warn, warn, a'; For Lords and lairds came there bedeen And wow but they were braw, Willie. But when the standard was set up Right fierce the wind did blaw, Willie; The royal nit upon the tap Down to the ground did fa', Willie. Up and warn a' Willie, Warn, warn, a'; Then second-sighted Sandie said We'd do nae gude at a', Willie. But when the army join'd at Perth, The bravest ere ye saw, Willie, We didna doubt the rogues to rout, Restore our king and a', Willie. Up and warn a' Willie, Warn, warn, a'; The pipers play'd frae right to left O whirry whigs awa, Willie. But when we march'd to Sherramuir And there the rebels saw, Willie; Brave Argyle attack'd our right, Our flank and front and a', Willie. Up and warn a', Willie, Warn, warn a'; Traitor Huntly soon gave way Seaforth, St Clair and a' Willie. But brave Glengarry on our right The rebel's left did claw, Willie, He there the greatest slaughter made That ever Donald saw, Willie. Up and warn a', Willie, Warn, warn a', And Whittam sh-t his breeks for fear And fast did rin awa', Willie. For he ca'd us a Highland mob And soon he'd slay us a', Willie; But we chas'd him back to Stirling brig Dragoons and foot and a', Willie. Up and warn a' Willie, Warn, warn a', At length we rallied on a hill And briskly up did draw, Willie. But when Argyle did view our line, And them in order saw, Willie, He streight gaed to Dumblane again And back his left did draw, Willie. Up and warn a' Willie, Warn warn a', Then we to Auchterairder march'd To wait a better fa' Willie. Now if ye spier wha wan the day, I've tell'd you what I saw, Willie, We baith did fight and baith did beat And baith did rin awa, Willie. Up and warn a', Willie, Warn, warn a', Willie, For second sighted Sandie said We'd do nae gude at a', Willie.

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John Shedden

About this work

This is a song by Robert Burns. It was written in 1788 and is read here by John Shedden.

Themes for this song

jacobitismwarroyalty

Selected for 26 November

We return to the battlefield of Sherrifmuir which we recently abandoned on November 13th. Today's poem puts some encouraging Jacobite 'spin' on events before concluding with ominous ambiguity.

Donny O'Rourke

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