As I cam by the Garioch land
And doon by Netherha'
There were fifty thoosan Hielanmen
A-marchin tae Harlaw.
Chorus
Singin didee-i-o,
Sing fal la do,
Sing didee-i-o-i-ay.
'It's did ye come fae the Hielans, man,
An did ye come a' the wey,
An did ye see MacDonald an his men
As they marched frae Skye?'
'It's I come fae the Hielans, man,
An I come a' the wey -
An I saw MacDonald an his men
As they marched frae Skye.'
'It's wis ye near and near enough,
Did ye their number see?
Come tell to me, John Hielanman,
What might their number be?'
'For I was near and near enough
An I their number saw:
There were fifty thoosan Hielanmen
A-marchin tae Harlaw.'
For they went on an furder on
An doon an by Balquhain:
It's there I met Sir James the Rose
Wi him Sir John the Graham.
'If that be's true', said Sir James the Rose,
'We'll no come muckle speed.
We will call upon wer merry men
And we'll turn wer horses' heids.'
'Oh nay, oh nay', said Sir John the Graham,
'Sic things we maunna dee:
For the gallant Grahams were never beaten
An' we'll try fit they can dee.'
For they went on an furder on
An doon an by Harlaw:
They fell full close on ilkae side,
Sic strikes ye never saw.
They fell full close on ilkae side,
Sic strikes ye never saw -
For ilkae sword gied clash for clash
At the battle o Harlaw.
The Highlandmen wi their lang swords
They laid on us fu sair;
They drove back wer merry men
Three acres breadth an mair.
Lord Forbes to his brother did say
'O brither, dinna ye see?
They beat us back on every side,
And we'll be forced to flee.'
'O nay, O nay, my brother dear,
O nay, that maunna be.
or ye'll tak your guid sword in your hand
And ye'll gang in wi me.'
For the two brothers brave
Gaed in amangst the thrang;
They swope doon the Hielanmen
Wi swords both sharp an lang.
The first strike Lord Forbes gied
The brave MacDonald reeled,
The second strike Lord Forbes gied
The brave MacDonald fell.
What a cry among the Hielanmen
When they seed their leader fa,
They lifted him an buried him
A lang mile frae Harlaw.
And doon by Netherha'
There were fifty thoosan Hielanmen
A-marchin tae Harlaw.
Chorus
Singin didee-i-o,
Sing fal la do,
Sing didee-i-o-i-ay.
'It's did ye come fae the Hielans, man,
An did ye come a' the wey,
An did ye see MacDonald an his men
As they marched frae Skye?'
'It's I come fae the Hielans, man,
An I come a' the wey -
An I saw MacDonald an his men
As they marched frae Skye.'
'It's wis ye near and near enough,
Did ye their number see?
Come tell to me, John Hielanman,
What might their number be?'
'For I was near and near enough
An I their number saw:
There were fifty thoosan Hielanmen
A-marchin tae Harlaw.'
For they went on an furder on
An doon an by Balquhain:
It's there I met Sir James the Rose
Wi him Sir John the Graham.
'If that be's true', said Sir James the Rose,
'We'll no come muckle speed.
We will call upon wer merry men
And we'll turn wer horses' heids.'
'Oh nay, oh nay', said Sir John the Graham,
'Sic things we maunna dee:
For the gallant Grahams were never beaten
An' we'll try fit they can dee.'
For they went on an furder on
An doon an by Harlaw:
They fell full close on ilkae side,
Sic strikes ye never saw.
They fell full close on ilkae side,
Sic strikes ye never saw -
For ilkae sword gied clash for clash
At the battle o Harlaw.
The Highlandmen wi their lang swords
They laid on us fu sair;
They drove back wer merry men
Three acres breadth an mair.
Lord Forbes to his brother did say
'O brither, dinna ye see?
They beat us back on every side,
And we'll be forced to flee.'
'O nay, O nay, my brother dear,
O nay, that maunna be.
or ye'll tak your guid sword in your hand
And ye'll gang in wi me.'
For the two brothers brave
Gaed in amangst the thrang;
They swope doon the Hielanmen
Wi swords both sharp an lang.
The first strike Lord Forbes gied
The brave MacDonald reeled,
The second strike Lord Forbes gied
The brave MacDonald fell.
What a cry among the Hielanmen
When they seed their leader fa,
They lifted him an buried him
A lang mile frae Harlaw.