The Book of Scottish Song/John Highlandman

John Highlandman.

[This forms the "Raucle Carline's" song in Burn's Jolly Beggars. It is given in the fifth volume of George Thomson's collection, to the tune of "The White Cockade." Others adapt it to the tune of "O an ye were dead, guidman."]

A Highland lad my love was born,
The Lawland laws he held in scorn;
But he still was faithful to his clan,
My gallant, braw John Highlandman!
⁠Sing hey, my braw John Highlandman!
⁠Sing ho, my braw John Highlandman!
⁠There's not a lad in a' the land,
⁠Was match for my John Highlandman!

With his philabeg and tartan plaid,
And gude claymore down by his side,
The ladies' hearts he did trepan,
My gallant braw John Highlandman.

We ranged a' from Tweed to Spey,
And lived like lords and ladies gay;
For a Lawland face he feared none,
My gallant braw John Highlandman.

They banish'd him beyond the sea;
But, ere the bud was on the tree,
Adown my checks the pearls ran,
Embracing my John Highlandman.

But, och! they catched him at the last,
And bound him in a dungeon fast;
My curse upon them every one,
They've hang'd my braw John Highlandman!

And now, a widow, I must mourn
Departed joys that ne'er return,
No comfort but a hearty can,
When I think on John Highlandman.

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