The later poems of John Clare 1837-1864 ... General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
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HERES A HEALTH TO SCOTLAND |
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 | The later poems of John Clare |  |
HERES A HEALTH TO SCOTLAND
Heres a health to bonny Scotland and the land o the west
Heres a health to bonny Scotland as the land I loo the best
I've a love for the mountain and the freedom o the flood
And the bonny sight o Highland hills it does my spirits good
Heres a love for bonny lasses and a health for honest men
The dwellers on the mountains and the tenants o' the glen
I've drank old Scotlands health and I mean to do it still
And my own hearts bluid for liberty is left upon yon hill—
Heres a health to bonny Scotland as the land I loo the best
I've a love for the mountain and the freedom o the flood
And the bonny sight o Highland hills it does my spirits good
Heres a love for bonny lasses and a health for honest men
The dwellers on the mountains and the tenants o' the glen
I've drank old Scotlands health and I mean to do it still
And my own hearts bluid for liberty is left upon yon hill—
Where the boldest men have conquered and freedom truly won
Upon the Scottish mountains beneath a glorious sun
I've done it ance or twice for that highly favored land
And I'll do it ance agen wi my claymore in my hand
And charge wi all her chivalry the flower o Highlan men
And the bonnet and the Thistle shall cross the Tweed agen
Shall cross the Tweed for liberty and leave the English free
For her union is the roses & I'll never spoil the tree
Upon the Scottish mountains beneath a glorious sun
I've done it ance or twice for that highly favored land
And I'll do it ance agen wi my claymore in my hand
And charge wi all her chivalry the flower o Highlan men
And the bonnet and the Thistle shall cross the Tweed agen
Shall cross the Tweed for liberty and leave the English free
For her union is the roses & I'll never spoil the tree
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So here's a health to Scotland o' the whiskey gill
And may her claymore ne'er be drawn for honest body's ill
When the bayonets on the musket and the claymore from the sheath
Let each stroke be for Liberty for guilty tyrants death
His bluid shall stain the heather who our Scottish right defames
And Bannockburn is living still that tyrant felon shames
So here's a health to Scotland the freest of the free
Her ain laws are the bible which speaks of Liberty
And may her claymore ne'er be drawn for honest body's ill
When the bayonets on the musket and the claymore from the sheath
Let each stroke be for Liberty for guilty tyrants death
His bluid shall stain the heather who our Scottish right defames
And Bannockburn is living still that tyrant felon shames
So here's a health to Scotland the freest of the free
Her ain laws are the bible which speaks of Liberty
| The later poems of John Clare | |