WILL YE NO' COME BACK AGAIN?

WILL YE NO' COME BACK AGAIN?
Lady Caroline Nairne

Bonnie Chairlie's noo awa',

Safely ower the friendly main.

Mony a he'rt will break in twa,

Should he ne'er come back again.

Chorus :

Will ye no' come back again?

Will ye no' come back again?

Better lo'ed, ye canna be,

Will ye no' come back again?

Ye trusted in your Hielan' men,

They trusted you dear Chairlie.

They kent your hidin' in the glen,

Death or exile bravin'.

We watched thee in the gloamin' hour,

We watched thee in the mornin' grey.

Tho' thirty thousand pounds they gie.

O there is nane that wad betray.

Sweet the laverock's note and lang,

Liltin' wildly up the glen.

But aye tae me he sings ae sang,

Will ye no' come back again?

Footnote : A Jacobite song to commemorate the raising of Prince Charles Edward Stewart's banner at Glenfinnan on 19 August 1745. The 1745 Jacobite Rising was to end tragically on the field of Cullodon on 16 April 1746 with the resultant flight to the heather by The Young Chevalier before his departure to France on 20 September 1746.The poet and songwriter Lady Caroline Nairne , nee Oliphant, came from a loyal Jacobite family indeed the Prince visited her Perthshire family home of Gask during the '45. Whilst I have plenty respect for the loyalty and courage of the Highlanders who supported the Stewart cause, instead of dreaming of the return of the despotic Stewarts, I for one wish that he had never come in the first place!