The Flowers O The Forest
THE ancient folk song "The Flowers O The Forest" laments the loss of so many lives on Flodden Field.
Oh I've heard them liltin' at the ewe milkin'
Lasses a-liltin' before dawn o' day.
Now there's a moanin' on ilka green loanin,
The Flow'rs o' the Forest are a' wede away.
At bughts in the mornin', nae blyth lads are scornin',
Lassies are lanely, an' dowie, an' wae;
Nae daffin', nae gabbin', but sighin' an' sabbin',
Ilk ane lifts her leglin', an' hies her away.
At e'en in the gloamin, nae swankies are roamin',
'Bout stacks wi' the lasses at bogle to play;
But ilk maid sits dreary, lamentin' her dearie,
The Flow'rs o' the Forest are a' wede away.
In har'st, at the shearin', nae youths now are jeerin',
Bandsters are runkles, an' lyart, or grey;
At fair or at preachin', nae wooin', nae fleechin',
The Flow'rs o' the Forest are a' wede away.
Dool for the order sent our lads to the Border,
The English, for ance, by guile won the day;
The Flow'rs o' the Forest that fought aye the foremost,
The prime o' our land, lie cauld in the clay.
We'll ha'e nae mair liltin' at the ewe milkin',
Women an' bairns are heartless an' wae;
Sighin' an' moanin' on ilk green loanin',
The Flow'rs o' the Forest are a' wede away.
This article:
http://heritage.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=40692005
I'm headed out to a WWII reenactment this weekend, and I'll certainly pipe "Flowers of the Forest" in memory.
Originally Posted by sav
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