According to Hopekirk, this melody was composed in 1745 on the departure of Donald MacCrimmon by his sister. Another legend has it that Donald MacCrimmon had a premonition of his death and composed the tune the night before he died and that his sister later wrote the words. Donald MacCrimmon is said to have been killed in a skirmish in 1746 at the Rout of Moy during the last Jacobite Uprising. The MacCrimmons were famous pipers and the hereditary pipers of the Clan MacLeod.
MacCRIMMON'S LAMENT
(with appreciation to mkm576)
Doun Coullin's peaks the night is sailin'
The banshee crouns her note o' wailin'
Bit my blue een wi' sorrow are streamin'
For him that will never return - MacCrimmon
(Chorus)
No more, no more, no more forever
In war nor in peace shall return MacCrimmon
Till daws the great day o doul an burnin'
MacCrimmon is home no more returnin'
The breeze on the braes is mournfully moanin'
The brook in the hallow is plaintively mournin'
Bit my blue een wi' sorrow are streamin'
For him that will never return -- MacCrimmon
(Chorus)
Its dirges of woe the sea is sighing,
The boat under sail unmov'd is lying;
The voice of waves in sadness dying
Say, thou art away and ne'er returnest.
Chorus
We'll see no more MacCrimmon's returning
In peace nor in war is he returning
Till dawns the great day of woe and burning,
For him, there's no more returning.
MacCRIMMON'S LAMENT
(with appreciation to mkm576)
Doun Coullin's peaks the night is sailin'
The banshee crouns her note o' wailin'
Bit my blue een wi' sorrow are streamin'
For him that will never return - MacCrimmon
(Chorus)
No more, no more, no more forever
In war nor in peace shall return MacCrimmon
Till daws the great day o doul an burnin'
MacCrimmon is home no more returnin'
The breeze on the braes is mournfully moanin'
The brook in the hallow is plaintively mournin'
Bit my blue een wi' sorrow are streamin'
For him that will never return -- MacCrimmon
(Chorus)
Its dirges of woe the sea is sighing,
The boat under sail unmov'd is lying;
The voice of waves in sadness dying
Say, thou art away and ne'er returnest.
Chorus
We'll see no more MacCrimmon's returning
In peace nor in war is he returning
Till dawns the great day of woe and burning,
For him, there's no more returning.