The Highland Widow's Lament: The Highland Widow's Lament

The Highland Widow's Lament

[This song is said to be Burns's version of a Gaelic lament for the
ruin which followed the rebellion of the year 1745: he sent it to the
Museum.]

I.
    Oh! I am come to the low countrie,
      Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
    Without a penny in my purse,
      To buy a meal to me.
II.
    It was na sae in the Highland hills,
      Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
    Nae woman in the country wide
      Sae happy was as me.
III.
    For then I had a score o' kye,
      Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
    Feeding on yon hills so high,
      And giving milk to me.
IV.
    And there I had three score o' yowes,
      Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
    Skipping on yon bonnie knowes,
      And casting woo' to me.
V.
    I was the happiest of a' the clan,
      Sair, sair, may I repine;
    For Donald was the brawest lad,
      And Donald he was mine.
VI.
    Till Charlie Stewart cam' at last,
      Sae far to set us free;
    My Donald's arm was wanted then,
      For Scotland and for me.
VII.
    Their waefu' fate what need I tell,
      Right to the wrang did yield:
    My Donald and his country fell
      Upon Culloden's field.
VIII.
    Oh! I am come to the low countrie,
      Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
    Nae woman in the world wide
      Sae wretched now as me.

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