The twenty-seventh of January,
The year 17 hundred and 83,
The Highland boys would not agree.
To ship, for colonel G——n.
chorus.
Charley are ye waking yet?
Or are ye sleeping? I would wot;
The Highland drums to arms to beat,
Will you go on board this morning?
To the East Indies we were were sold
By M——y, for a bag of gold;
But listen a while and I will unfold,
How we did blast his glory.
At Portsmouth we were shipped to be,
To serve the East India Company;
But the Highland lads would not agree,
To go abroad that morning.
Were it to fight ’gainst France or Spain,
We would with pleasure cross the main,
But like bullocks to be sold for gain.
Our highland blood abhors it.
Charley appeared upon the plain,
And thus he did address his men:
The first that refuses shall be slain,
To go on board this morning.
The Higland boys did him deny,
Said, we will fight untill we die ;
