Wae’s Me for Prince Charlie

[Scenery & Songs Contents]

Wae’s Me for Prince Charlie. 

Words by William Glen. 

Arranged by John S. Macgregor. 

– 

A wee bird came to our ha’ door, 

He warbled sweet and clearly; 

And aye the o’ercome o’ his sang, 

Was ‘wae’s me for Prince Charlie.’ 

O when I heard the bonny, bonny bird, 

The tears came drapping rarely, 

I took my bonnet aff my head, 

For weel I lo’ed Prince Charlie. 

– 

Quoth I, my bird, my bonny bird, 

Is that a tale ye borrow? 

Or is’t some words ye’ve learnt by rote, 

Or a lilt o’ dool and sorrow?’ 

‘Oh1 no, no, no,’ the wee bird sang, 

I’ve flown sin morning early; 

But sic a day o’ wind and rain! 

Oh! wae’s me for Prince Charlie. 

– 

On hills that are by right his ain, 

He roams a lonely stranger; 

On ilka hand he’s press’d by want, 

On ilka side by danger. 

Yestreen I met him in the glen, 

My heart near bursted fairly; 

For sadly changed indeed was he. 

Oh! wae’s me for Prince Charlie! 

– 

Dark night came on, the tempest howl’d, 

Out owre the hills and valleys; 

And whaur was’t that your Prince lay down. 

Whause hame should be a palace? 

He row’d him in a highland plaid, 

Which cover’d him but sparely, 

And slept beneath a bush o’ broom. 

Oh! wae’s me for Prince Charlie.’ 

– 

But now the bird saw some red coats, 

And he shook his wings wi’ anger; 

‘O this is no a land for me, 

I’ll tarry here nae langer.’ 

A while he hover’d on the wing, 

Ere he departed fairly; 

But weel I mind the fareweel strain, 

‘Twas ‘wae’s me for Prince Charlie!’ 

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