Òran nan Raiders

Òran nan Raiders 

O, ’s ann tha na diùlnaich thall 
Air an taobh ud dhen a’ Bheinn: 
Fhuair iad fearann ann gun taing 
Bhon an aingidh rinn am mealladh. 

Fhad ’s a bhios an linn seo beò 
Bidh cuimhn’ air cainnteanas Lloyd George: 
Gheall e fearann do na seòid, 
Ach na thill beò dhiubh, ’s mòr an gearain. 

Nuair a thuig na gillean còir 
Gu robh an Government fo sgleò 
’S nach robh cainnteanas Lloyd George 
Ach mar cheò a’ falbh à sealladh, 

Chruinnich iad is fhuair iad pìob, 
’S am port a chluich iad Morair Sìm, 
’S cha robh fear a bha san sgìr’ 
Nach robh cruinn aig roinn an fhearainn. 

Thàinig Raghnall le mòr uaill, 
Le each ’s le ghunna dol mun cuairt: 
’S gann a bhruidhneadh e le gruaim – 
Thug e ’n dualchas ud bho sheanair. 

An Dotair Moireach, suas a chliù, 
Faic mar thagair e sa chùis: 
Thug e mach iad às an tùr 
Gu an saors’ a dheòin ’s a dh’aindeoin. 

Sguiridh mise nis dhem dhàn: 
’S e mo dhùrachd sibh bhith slàn, 
Le bhur sabhail mhòra làn 
Leis a’ ghràn gu àird nan sparran. 

O, what heroes there are 

O, what heroes there are 
on that side of a’ Bheinn. 
No thanks to the wicked one who deceived them, 
they got land there.

While this generation is alive 
Lloyd George’s speech will be remembered. 
He promised land to the heroes 
but those who returned alive have much to complain about.

When the good lads realised 
that the government was suspect 
and that Lloyd George’s words 
were like mist disappearing out of sight,

they gathered together and found a set of bagpipes. 
The tune they played was Morair Sim 
and there wasn’t a man in the district 
who wasn’t present at the division of the land.

Arrogantly Raghnall, armed with a gun,  
appeared on horseback. 
So sullen was he, he could hardly speak – 
a trait inherited from his grandfather.

Salute Dr Murray 
who prosecuted the matter. 
Despite everything,  
he managed to get them released from jail.

I’ll now stop my song. 
My earnest hope is that you will all be well, 
with your great barns full 
to the rafters with grain.