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  • Scots/English translation Corries lyrics
  • BlindMelon
    Free Member

    The recent thread on folk music lead me to The Corries song Killiecrankie, can someone give meaning to the lyrics for me?

    Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?
    Whaur hae ye been sae brankie-o?
    Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?
    Cam’ ye by Killiecrankie-o?

    An’ ye had been whaur I hae been
    Ye wadna been sae cantie-o
    An’ ye had seen what I hae seen
    On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o

    I fought at land, I fought at sea
    At hame I fought my auntie-o
    But I met the Devil and Dundee
    On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o

    The bauld pitcur fell in a furr
    And Clavers gat a crankie-o
    Or I had fed an Athol gled
    On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o

    Oh fie, MacKay, What gart ye lie
    I’ the brush ayont the brankie-o?
    Ye’d better kiss’d King Willie’s loff
    Than come tae Killiecrankie-o

    It’s nae shame, it’s nae shame
    It’s nae shame to shank ye-o
    There’s sour slaes on Athol braes
    And the de’ils at Killiecrankie-o

    Albanach
    Free Member

    Nicked from mudcat.org
    Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad? (Where have you been so fine, lad?
    Whaur hae ye been sae brankie-o? (Where have you been so gay?
    Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad? (Where have you been so fine, lad?
    Cam’ ye by Killiecrankie-o? (Did you come by Killiecrankie?

    An’ ye had been whaur I hae been (If you had been where I have been
    Ye wadna been sae cantie-o   (You would not be so cheerful/happy
    An’ ye had seen what I hae seen (If you had seen what I have seen
    On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o (On the slopes/hills of Killiecrankie

    I fought at land, I fought at sea
    At hame I fought my auntie-o    (At home I fought my aunt
    But I met the Devil and Dundee
    On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o

    The bauld pitcur fell in a furr
    And Clavers gat a crankie-o (And Clavers got a insecure/unsteady
    Or I had fed an Athol gled
    On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o

    Oh fie, MacKay, What gart ye lie (Oh fie, McKay, What made you lie
    I’ the brush ayont the brankie-o? (In the brush among the gay?
    Ye’d better kiss’d King Willie’s loff (loof=palm of the hand
    Than come tae Killiecrankie-o

    BigButSlimmerBloke
    Free Member

    Not relevant to the OP but after the battle of killiecrankie, one of the government (losing side) soldiers was being chased by a bunch of highlanders and trapped by the river garry, leaped across the river. he made it to the other side and escaped, the spot now being referred to as the soldiers leap

    BlindMelon
    Free Member

    Thanks Al.

    BBSB there is a similar story in the town I grew up in called Limavady. In Irish this is Leim an Mhadaidh which means leap of the dog. An Irish wolfhound was meant to have jumped the river and took a message to a neighbouring clan to advise the local clan the O’Cahans were under attack.

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