Wha’ll be king but Charlie? (Arthur Edward Johnstone)
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- Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-03-04). Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 569 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: Wha’ll be king but Charlie?
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)
Arranger: Arthur Edward Johnstone
Lyricist: Carolina Oliphant
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Folksong
Language: Lowland Scots
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1910 American Book Co.
Description: Scottish folksong
External websites:
Original text and translations
Lowland Scots text
The news fraw Moidart cam’ yestreen
Will soon gar mony ferlie;
For ships o’ war hae just come in,
And landit Royal Charlie?
Come thro’ the heather, around him gather,
Ye’re a’ the welcomer early;
Around him cling wi’ a’ your kin;
For wha’ll be king but Charlie?
Come thro’ the heather, around him gather,
Come Ronald, come Donald, come a’ thegither,
And crown your rightfu’ lawfu’ king!
For wha’ll be king but Charlie?
The Hieland clans, wi’ sword in hand,
Frae John o’ Groats’ to Airlie,
Hae to a man declared to stand
Or fa’ wi’ Royal Charlie.
The Lowlands a’, baith great an’ sma,
Wi’ mony a lord and laird, hae
Declar’d for Scotia’s king an’ law,
An’ speir ye wha’ but Charlie.
There’s ne’er a lass in a’ the lan’,
But vows baith late an’ early,
She’ll ne’er to man gie heart nor han’
Wha wadna fecht for Charlie.
Then here’s a health to Charlie’s cause,
And be’t complete an’ early;
His very name out heart’s blood warms;
To arms for Royal Charlie!