DESCRIPTION:
Harlaw by Alastair McDonald, from the album "Battles and Ballads of Scotland".

"The Battle of Harlaw" is a traditional Scottish ballad about the Battle of Harlaw which took place in 1411 between the armies of Donald of the Isles and the Earl of Mar. The battle was indecisive for both sides, but is remembered as one of the bloodiest battles fought on Scottish ground.

Lyrics

And cam ye frae the Hielans man?
And cam ye a the wye?
Saw ye MacDonald and and his men
As they cam in frae Skye?

Chorus:
Wey a darum, a droo and a dree and a drum
Wey a darum, a droo drum drae

And cam ye near and near eneuch
Did ye their numbers see?
Come tell to me John Hielanman
What micht their numbers be?

It's I cam in by the Garioch land
And doon by Nether Ha'
And I saw MacDonald and his men
A-marching tae Harlaw

And I cam near and near eneuch
And I their numbers saw
There were forty thoosand Hielanmen
A-marching tae Harlaw

The Hielanmen with their lang swords
Fell in at us fu' sair
And they drave back wir Lawlanmen
Three acres breadth and mair

Lord Forbes tae his brother did say
Oh brother, dinnaye see?
They've drave us back on ilka side
And we'll be forced tae flee!

Oh na, na, na, my brother dear
This thing it maunna be
Ye'll tak yer guid sword in yer haun
And ye'll gang in wi me

Then back tae back the brothers brave
Gaed in amang the thrang
And they struck doon the Hielanmen
Wi swords baith shairp an lang

The first blow that Lord Forbes struck
The sword ran in an ell
The second blow that Forbes struck
The great MacDonald fell

Sic a cry frae among the Hielanmen
When ye see their leader fa
They cairtit him and buirit him
Alang by fair Harlaw

Gin anyun should speir at ye
For them that's gade awa
Just tell them plain and unco plain
They're sleepin' at Harlaw