Jethart Callant's Festival Songs
Jethart's Here
Words: G. F. Lenid Music: J. Hewie
I
The cry’s gane thro’ the Borderland, The beacons bleeze on Dunion tap; For English knaves fra’ Cumberland Ha’ crost the Fell by Carter Slap. |
Chorus
Dear Borderland! Blench na’ nor fear! Oor Borderland, nae foe comes near! Stand firm and sure; For Jethart’s Here! Stand firm and sure; For Jethart’s Here! |
II
At Mercat Cross the Warden mak’s The ’larm bell clang we’deaf’nin soun’ Ilk’ prikker grips his Jedwood Axe: And Kers and Elyots rally roun’. |
III
Then up and spak, our gallant chief, Oh! wha will bauldly gang wi’ me? Nor Hoblyyer, nor Reed Swire thief Shall e’er gae by the Lintalee. |
IV
As lang’s the red bluid fills my veins– As lang’s my airm can Jedstaff ply– Nae foe shall daur tread on these stanes Or I shall ken the reason why. |
V
His voice rang out; the banners flout The air – while clangs the tocsin bell An’ Burgers raise the warrior shout, To Carter Fell! To Carter Fell! |
Ancrum Toon
I
Let poets praise each ‘Eden scene’ Beside the classic Jed Let rhymsters rave ower Denholm Dene When Autumn paints it red, But I’ve a scene Before my een, That can a’ others croon, For beauties pale, Beside the vale That smiles on Ancrum toon. III
A mystic tale breathes ower the vale, An’ tells, in whispered breath, O’ coats o’ mail, an’ piercing wail, An’ English raid, an’ death. An’ how her fame To Lilliard came, In a’ the country roun‘; That heroine, Was child o’ thine Mane, sweet Ancrum toon. |
Refrain
O’ Ancrum toon, Sweet Ancrum toon, I’ll love thee aye the best. In winter’s gloom, Or simmer’s bloom, Frae distant East to West, What scene could ere Wi‘ thee compare? What fairer spot could be, By day or nicht, Sae Sweet, sae bricht, Dear Ancrum toon, as thee? IV
E’en let me wander by the stream That murmurs thro’ the glade Or lie on Primrose Bank an’ dream O’ thy brave woods arrayed In varied sheen O’ springtime‘s green, Or Autumn’ fading broon; An’ a my days Sing lood in praise O‘ thee, Sweet Ancrum toon. |
II
Like rustic queen, the village green Is fringed by leafy trees, Oft bursting into leaf I’ve seen, Or bending to the breeze. While Ale‘s bright waves Thy valley laves, When laughing gaily doon To seek his bride By Teviot’s side, But loves thee, Ancrum toon. V
Or’ let me ponder a’ alane, Beside the hallowed dead, Upon a lyin’,mossy stane, That haps some narrow bed. What memories O’ bygone days, Like wafts from distant June Thy ruined kirk, An’ scented birk, Revive, sweet Ancrum toon |
Brave Lads O' Jethart
Words: Edmund Hope Music: T Wight
Words: Edmund Hope Music: T Wight
I
Let others sing o’ Heiland hills Where leaps the mountain flood; For me, I’ll sing o’ Border rills And valiant Border blood, O’ Border lads in days of yore Wha focht for Scotland’s right. For Freedom’s banner high they bore Wi hardihood and might. III
In Chevy Chase and Ancrum Moor An’ mony mair beside, And e’en in Scotland’s darkest ’oor When fell oor Border pride, Oor Border lads Wane could surpass, They fell like heroes a’, An e’en at Killiecrankie Pass They bore the gree an a’. |
IV
Fain would I tell of Border wights That lie on foreign shore, At Waterloo, on Alma’s heights, They aye were to the fore; Oor Border lads are leal and true, And rousing is their cheer |