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MacGregor's Gathering

From: Excerpts from Rob Roy and Selected Poems *

Air - Thain 'a Grigalach
Written for Albyn's Anthology
[1816]

These verses are adapted to a very wild, yet lively gathering tune, used by the MacGregors.  The severe treatment of this Scottish Clan, their outlawry, and the proscription of their very name, are alluded to in the Ballad.  You may download a facsimile (in Adobe Acrobat format), of the song published in Dundee by the Poet's Box, probably after 1850, and read a transcript of it.

The moon's on the lake, and the mist's on the brae,
And the Clan has a name that is nameless by day;
   Then gather, gather, gather Grigalach!
   Gather, gather, gather, etc.

Our signal for fight, that from monarchs we drew,
Must be heard but by night in our vengeful haloo!
   Then haloo, Grigalach! haloo, Grigalach!
   Haloo, haloo, haloo, Grigalach, etc.

Glen Orchy's proud mountains, Coalchuirn and her towers,
Glenstrae and Glenlyon no longer are ours;
   We're landless, landless, landless, Grigalach!
   Landless, landless, landless, etc.

But doom'd and devoted by vassal and lord,
MacGregor has still both his heart and his sword!
   Then courage, courage, courage, Grigalach!
   Courage, courage, courage, etc.

If they rob us of name, and pursue us with beagles,
Give their roofs to the flame, and their flesh to the eagles!
   Then vengeance, vengeance, vengeance, Grigalach!
   Vengeance, vengeance, vengeance, etc.

While there's leaves in the forest, and foam on the river,
MacGregor, despite them, shall flourish for ever!
   Come then, Grigalach, come then, Grigalach!
   Come then, come then, come then, etc.

Through the depths of Loch Katrine the steed shall career,
O'er the peak of Ben-Lomond the galley shall steer,
And the rocks of Craig Royston like icicles melt,
Ere our wrongs be forgot, or our vengeance unfelt.
   Then gather, gather, gather Grigalach!
   Gather, gather, gather, etc.

* Scott, Sir Walter, Rob Roy And Selected Poems, The Book League of America, New York, undated.

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