Ballad on the American War

[Bombardier]

Ballad on the American War


When Guilford good our pilot stood,
An did the hellim thraw, man;
Ae night, at tea, began a plea,
Within America, man:
Then up they gat the maskin-pat.
And in the sea did jaw, man;
An did nae less, in full Congress,
Than quite refuse our law, man.


Then thro the lakes Montgomery takes,
I wat he was na slaw, man;
Down Lowrie's Burn he took a turn,
And Carleton did ca', man:
But yet, whatreck, he, at Quebec.
Montgomery-like did fa', man,
Wi sword in hand, before his band,
Amang his en'mies a', man.


Poor Tammy Gage within a cage
Was kept at Boston-ha', man;
Till Willie Howe took o'er the knowe
For Philadelphia, man;
Wi sword an gun he thought a sin
Guid Christian bluid to draw, man;
But at New-York, wi knife an fork,
Sir-Loin he hacked sma', man.


Burgoyne gaed up, like spur an whip,
Till Fraser brave did fa', man;
Then lost his way, ae misty day,
In Saratoga shaw, man.
Cornwallis fought as lang's he dought,
An did the buckskins claw, man;
But Clinton's glaive frae rust to save,
He hung it to the wa', man.

Then Montague, an Guilford too,
Began to fear a fa', man;
And Sackville doure, wha stood the stoure,
The German chief to thraw, man:
For Paddy Burke, like onie Turk,
Nae mercy had at a', man;
An Charlie Fox threw by the box,
An lows'd his tinkler jaw, man.

Then Rockingham took up the game,
Till death did on him ca', man;
When Shelburne meek held up his cheek,
Conform to gospel law, man:
Saint Stephen's boys, wi jarring noise,
They did his measures thraw, man;
For North an Fox united stocks,
An bore him to the wa', man.

Then clubs an hearts were Charlie's cartes,
He swept the stakes awa, man,
Till the diamond's ace, of Indian race,
Led him a sair faux pas, man:
The Saxon lads, wi loud placads,
On Chatham's boy did ca', man:
An Scotland drew her pipe an blew,
'Up, Willie, waur them a', man!'

Behind the throne then Granville's gone,
A secret word or twa, man;
While slee Dundas arous'd the class
Be-north the Roman wa', man:
An Chatham's wraith, in heav'nly graith,
(Inspired bardies saw, man),
Wi kindling eyes, cry'd: 'Willie rise!
Would I hae fear'd them a', man?'

But, word an blow, North, Fox, and Co.
Gowff'd Willie like a ba', man,
Till Suthron raise, an coost their claise
Behind him in a raw, man:
An Caledon threw by the drone,
An did her whittle draw, man;
An swoor fu rude, thro dirt an bluid,
To mak it guid in law, man.

Robert Burns

[Bombardier]

Ballad on the American War


When Guilford good our pilot stood,
An did the hellim thraw, man;
Ae night, at tea, began a plea,
Within America, man:
Then up they gat the maskin-pat.
And in the sea did jaw, man;
An did nae less, in full Congress,
Than quite refuse our law, man.


Then thro the lakes Montgomery takes,
I wat he was na slaw, man;
Down Lowrie's Burn he took a turn,
And Carleton did ca', man:
But yet, whatreck, he, at Quebec.
Montgomery-like did fa', man,
Wi sword in hand, before his band,
Amang his en'mies a', man.


Poor Tammy Gage within a cage
Was kept at Boston-ha', man;
Till Willie Howe took o'er the knowe
For Philadelphia, man;
Wi sword an gun he thought a sin
Guid Christian bluid to draw, man;
But at New-York, wi knife an fork,
Sir-Loin he hacked sma', man.


Burgoyne gaed up, like spur an whip,
Till Fraser brave did fa', man;
Then lost his way, ae misty day,
In Saratoga shaw, man.
Cornwallis fought as lang's he dought,
An did the buckskins claw, man;
But Clinton's glaive frae rust to save,
He hung it to the wa', man.

Then Montague, an Guilford too,
Began to fear a fa', man;
And Sackville doure, wha stood the stoure,
The German chief to thraw, man:
For Paddy Burke, like onie Turk,
Nae mercy had at a', man;
An Charlie Fox threw by the box,
An lows'd his tinkler jaw, man.

Then Rockingham took up the game,
Till death did on him ca', man;
When Shelburne meek held up his cheek,
Conform to gospel law, man:
Saint Stephen's boys, wi jarring noise,
They did his measures thraw, man;
For North an Fox united stocks,
An bore him to the wa', man.

Then clubs an hearts were Charlie's cartes,
He swept the stakes awa, man,
Till the diamond's ace, of Indian race,
Led him a sair faux pas, man:
The Saxon lads, wi loud placads,
On Chatham's boy did ca', man:
An Scotland drew her pipe an blew,
'Up, Willie, waur them a', man!'

Behind the throne then Granville's gone,
A secret word or twa, man;
While slee Dundas arous'd the class
Be-north the Roman wa', man:
An Chatham's wraith, in heav'nly graith,
(Inspired bardies saw, man),
Wi kindling eyes, cry'd: 'Willie rise!
Would I hae fear'd them a', man?'

But, word an blow, North, Fox, and Co.
Gowff'd Willie like a ba', man,
Till Suthron raise, an coost their claise
Behind him in a raw, man:
An Caledon threw by the drone,
An did her whittle draw, man;
An swoor fu rude, thro dirt an bluid,
To mak it guid in law, man.

Robert Burns

[Bombardier]

Standard English Translation

When Guilford good our pilot stood,
And did our helm turn, man;
One night, at tea, began a plea,
Within America, man:
Then up they got the tea-pot,
And in the sea did dash, man;
And did no less, in full Congress,
Than quite refuse our law, man.

Then through the lakes Montgomery takes,
I know he was not slow, man;
Down Lowrie's River he took a turn,
And Carleton did call, man:
But yet, what matters, he at Quebec
Montgomery-like did fall, man,
With sword in hand, before his band,
Among his enemies all, man.

Poor Tommy Gage within a cage
Was kept at Boston-hall, man;
Till Willie Howe took over the hill
For Philadelphia, man;
With sword and gun he thought a sin
Good Christian blood to draw, man;
But at New York with knife and fork
Sir-Loin he hacked small, man.

Burgoyne went up, like spur and whip,
Till Fraser brave did fall, man;
Then lost his way, one misty day,
In Saratoga wood, man.
Cornwallis fought as long as he could,
And did the buckskins claw, man;
But Cinton's glove from rust to save,
He hung it to the wall, man.

Then Montague, and Guilford too,
Began to fear a fall, man;
And Sackville obstinate, who stood the fight
The German chief to thwart, man:
For Paddy Burke, like any wild person,
No mercy had at all, man;
And Charlie Fox threw by the box,
And let loose his tinker jaw, man.

Then Rockingham took up the game,
Till death did on him call, man;
When Shelburne meek held up his cheek,
Conform to gospel law, man:
Saint Stephen's boys, with jarring noise,
They did his measure thwart, man;
For North and Fox united stocks,
And bore him to the wall, man.

Then clubs and hearts were Charlie's cards:
He swept the stakes away, man,
Till the diamond's ace, of Indian race,
Led him a sore faux pas, man:
The Saxon lads, with loud cheers,
On Chatham's boy did call, man;
And Scotland drew her pipe and blew:
'Up Willie, worst them all, man!'

Behind the throne then Granville's gone,
A secret word or two, man;
While sly Dundas aroused the class
North of the Roman wall, man:
And Chatham's wraith (spectre), in heavenly garb,
(Inspired bardies saw {poets proverb}, man),
With kindling eyes, cried: 'Willie, rise!
Would I have feared them all, man?'

But, word and blow, North, Fox, and Co.
Golfed Willie like a ball, man,
Till Sathron rose and cast (off) their clothes
Behind him in a row, man:
And Caledon threw by the drone (bagpipes),
And did her blade draw, man;
And swore full rude, through dirt and blood,
To make it good in law, man.

[Bombardier]

Standard English Translation

When Guilford good our pilot stood,
And did our helm turn, man;
One night, at tea, began a plea,
Within America, man:
Then up they got the tea-pot,
And in the sea did dash, man;
And did no less, in full Congress,
Than quite refuse our law, man.

Then through the lakes Montgomery takes,
I know he was not slow, man;
Down Lowrie's River he took a turn,
And Carleton did call, man:
But yet, what matters, he at Quebec
Montgomery-like did fall, man,
With sword in hand, before his band,
Among his enemies all, man.

Poor Tommy Gage within a cage
Was kept at Boston-hall, man;
Till Willie Howe took over the hill
For Philadelphia, man;
With sword and gun he thought a sin
Good Christian blood to draw, man;
But at New York with knife and fork
Sir-Loin he hacked small, man.

Burgoyne went up, like spur and whip,
Till Fraser brave did fall, man;
Then lost his way, one misty day,
In Saratoga wood, man.
Cornwallis fought as long as he could,
And did the buckskins claw, man;
But Cinton's glove from rust to save,
He hung it to the wall, man.

Then Montague, and Guilford too,
Began to fear a fall, man;
And Sackville obstinate, who stood the fight
The German chief to thwart, man:
For Paddy Burke, like any wild person,
No mercy had at all, man;
And Charlie Fox threw by the box,
And let loose his tinker jaw, man.

Then Rockingham took up the game,
Till death did on him call, man;
When Shelburne meek held up his cheek,
Conform to gospel law, man:
Saint Stephen's boys, with jarring noise,
They did his measure thwart, man;
For North and Fox united stocks,
And bore him to the wall, man.

Then clubs and hearts were Charlie's cards:
He swept the stakes away, man,
Till the diamond's ace, of Indian race,
Led him a sore faux pas, man:
The Saxon lads, with loud cheers,
On Chatham's boy did call, man;
And Scotland drew her pipe and blew:
'Up Willie, worst them all, man!'

Behind the throne then Granville's gone,
A secret word or two, man;
While sly Dundas aroused the class
North of the Roman wall, man:
And Chatham's wraith (spectre), in heavenly garb,
(Inspired bardies saw {poets proverb}, man),
With kindling eyes, cried: 'Willie, rise!
Would I have feared them all, man?'

But, word and blow, North, Fox, and Co.
Golfed Willie like a ball, man,
Till Sathron rose and cast (off) their clothes
Behind him in a row, man:
And Caledon threw by the drone (bagpipes),
And did her blade draw, man;
And swore full rude, through dirt and blood,
To make it good in law, man.