The Book of Scottish Song/Donald Macgillavry

Donald Macgillavry.

[This is given by Hogg, in his "Jacobite Relics," as "a capital old song, and very popular." In a rather caustic criticism of that work, the Edinburgh Review quotes "Donald Maegillavry" as one of the best Jacobite relics in the collection. The Shepherd afterwards avowed it to be a production of his own, and rejoiced in the thought that he had exposed the reviewer's ignorance, without taking into calculation that he had also at the same time exposed his own literary dishonesty.]

Donald's gane up the hill hard and hungry,
Donald's come down the hill wild and angry;
Donald will clear the gowk's nest cleverly—
Here's to the king and Donald Macgillavry!
Come like a weigh-bauk, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like a weigh-bauk, Donald Macgillavry;
Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly—
Off wi' the counterfeit, Donald Macgillavry.

Donald's ran ower the hill, but his tether, man,
As he were wud, or stang'd wi" an ether, man;
When he comes back there's some will look merrily—
Here's to king James and Donald Macgillavry!
Come like a weaver, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like a weaver, Donald Macgillavry;
Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly,
Gi'e them full measure, my Donald Macgillavry.

Donald has foughten wi' reif and roguery,
Donald has dinner'd wi' banes and beggary;
Better it were for Whigs and Whiggery
Meeting the devil than Donald Macgillavry.
Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry;
Push about, in and out, thimble them cleverly—
Here's to king James and Donald Macgillavry!

Donald's the callan that brooks nae tangleness,
Whigging and prigging, and a' newfangleness;
They maun be gane, he winna be baukit, man,
He maun ha'e justice, or faith he will tak' it, man.
Come like a cobbler, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like a cobbler, Donald Macgillavry;
Beat them, and bore them, and lingle them cleverly—
Up wi' king James and Donald Macgillavry!

Donald was mumpit wi' mirds and mockery,
Donald was blinded wi' blads o' property;
Aries were high, but makinga were naething, man—
Lord, how Donald is flyting and fretting, man!
Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry,
Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry;
Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly—
Up wi' king James and Donald Macgillavry!

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