Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.

August 2

Wha’ll Be King but Charlie?

By Lady Nairne (1766–1845)

Charles Edward, “the young Pretender,” landed in the Hebrides on August 2, 1745, to head a Jacobite rising which was destined to be unsuccessful.

THE NEWS frae Moidart cam’ yestreen,

Will soon gar mony ferlie;

For ships o’ war hae just come in,

And landed Royal Charlie!

The Highland clans wi’ sword in hand,

Frae John o’ Groat’s to Airlie,

Hae to a man declared to stand,

Or fall wi’ Royal Charlie!

The Lowlands a’ baith great and sma’,

Wi’ mony a lord and laird, hae

Declared for Scotland’s king and law,

And speir ye, wha’ but Charlie?

There’s ne’er a lass in a’ the land

But vows baith late and early,

To man she’ll ne’er gie heart or hand

Who wadna fight for Charlie.

Then here’s a health to Charlie’s cause,

And be’t complete and early;

His very name my heart’s blood warms—

To arms for Royal Charlie!

Cho.—Come through the heather, around him gather,

Ye’re a’ the welcomer early;

Around him cling wi’ a’ your kin,

For wha’ll be king but Charlie?

Come through the heather, around him gather,

Come Ronald, come Donald, come a’ thegither,

And crown your rightfu’, lawfu’ king;

For wha’ll be king but Charlie?