Henrik Norbeck's Song Lyrics

Haughs o' Cromdale, The

Sheet Music (and more information about this song)

As I come in by Auchindoun,
Just a wee bit frae the toun,
As for the Hielands I was bound
Tae view the Haughs o' Cromdale.
I met a man in tartan trews,
I spiered at him what was the news,
Quo' he, "The Hieland army rues
That e'er we cam to Cromdale.

"We were in bed, sir, every man,
When the English host upon us cam,
A bloody battle then began
Upon the Haughs o' Cromdale.
The English horse they were so rude,
They bathed their hooves in Hieland blood,
But our brave clans, they boldly stood
Upon the Haughs o' Cromdale.

"But, alas, we could no longer stay,
So o'er the hills we cam away,
And sair we did lament the day
That e'er we cam tae Cromdale."
Thus the great Montrose did say:
"Hieland men shall lead the way
For I will o'er the hills this day,
Tae view the Haughs o' Cromdale."

"But, alas, my lord, you're not so strong,
You scarcely have two thousand men,
And there's twenty-thousand Cromwell men,
Stand rank and file on Cromdale."
Thus the great Montrose did say:
"Hieland men shall lead the way
For I will o'er the hills this day,
Tae view the Haughs o' Cromdale."

They were at dinner every man,
When great Montrose upon them cam,
A second battle then began
Upon the Haughs o' Cromdale.
The Grant, Mackenzie and MacKay,
As Montrose they did espy,
Then they fought most valiantly
Upon the Haughs o' Cromdale.

The MacDonalds they returned again,
The Camerons did their standard join,
MacIntosh played a bloody game
Upon the Haughs o' Cromdale.
The MacGregors fought like lions bold,
MacPhersons, none could them control,
MacLauchlins fought, like loyal souls
Upon the Haughs o' Cromdale.

The MacLeans, MacDougals, and MacNeils,
So boldly as they took the field,
And made their enemies to yield
Upon the Haughs o' Cromdale.
The Gordons boldly did advance,
The Frasers fought with sword and lance,
The Grahams they made the heads tae dance,
Upon the Haughs o' Cromdale.

Then the loyal Stewarts wi' Montrose,
So boldly set upon their foes,
Laid them low wi' Hieland blows
Laid them low on Cromdale.
Of twenty-thousand Cromwell's men,
A thousand fled tae Aberdeen,
The rest of them lie on the plain,
Upon the Haughs o' Cromdale.

Discography: The Corries

History: Interestingly, Montrose (James Graham) died in 1650,
whereas the battle took place in 1690

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