The Book of Scottish Song/Up and waur them a'

Up and waur them a'.

[This seems to be the second song in point of seniority on the subject of the battle of Sheriff-muir. Nothing is known of the author. We find great difference of reading in different copies, but here follow the version given in Hogg's Jacobite Relics. The chorus belongs to an old doggrel song, and the tune is very popular.]

When we went to the field o' war,
And to the weaponshaw, Willie,
Wi' true design to serve our king,
And chase our faes awa', Willie;
Lairds and lords came there bedeen,
And wow gin they were sma', Willie,
While pipers play'd frae right to left,
Fy, furich Whigs awa', Willie.
Up and waur them a', Willie,
Up and waur them a', Willie,
Up and sell your sour milk,
And dance, and ding them a', Willie.

And when our army was drawn up,
The bravest e'er I saw, Willie,
We did not doubt to rax the rout,
And win the day and a', Willie.
Out-owre the brae it was nae play
To get sae hard a fa', Willie,
While pipers play frae right to left,
Fy, furich Whigs awa', Willie.
Up and waur, &c.

But when our standard was set up,
So fierce the wind did blaw, Willie,
The golden knop down from the top
Unto the ground did fa', Willie.
Then second-sighted Sandy said,
We'll do nae gude at a', Willie,
While pipers play'd free right to left,
Fy, furich Whigs awa', Willie.
Up and waur, &c.

When brawly they attack'd our left,
Our front, and flank, and a', Willie,
Our bauld commander on the green,
Our faes their left did ca', Willie,
And there the greatest slaughter made
That e'er poor Tonald saw, Willie,
While pipers play'd frae right to left,
Fy, furich Whigs awa', Wiilie.
Up and waur, &c.

First when they saw our Highland mob,
They swore they'd slay us a', Willie;
And yet ane fyl'd his breeks for fear,
And so did rin awa', Willie.
We drave them back to Bonnybrigs,
Dragoons, and foot, and a', Willie,
While pipers play'd frae right to left,
Fy, furich Whigs awa', Willie.
Up and waur, &c.

But when their general viewed our lines,
And them in order saw, Willie,
He straight did inarch into the town,
And back his left did draw, Willie.
Thus we taught them the better gate
To get a better fa', Willie,
While pipers play'd frae right to left,
Fy, furich Whigs awa', Willie.
Up and waur, &c.

And then we rallied on the hills,
And bravely up did draw, Willie;
But gin ye speer wha wan the day.
I'll tell ye what I saw, Willie:
We baith did fight, and baith were beat,
And baith did rin awa', Willie.
So there's my canty Highland sang,
About the thing I saw, Wiilie.
Up and waur, &c.

---