Will ye no come back again (James Yorkston)

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• (Posted 2023-12-19)  CPDL #78367:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-12-19).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 433 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Will ye no come back again
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)
Arranger: James Yorkston
Lyricist: Carolina Oliphant
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Folksong

Language: Lowland Scots
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1885 Paterson & Sons
Description: 

Original text and translations

Lowland Scots text

Bonnie Charlie’s noo awa’,
Safely owre the friendly main;
Mony a he’rt will break in twa,
Should he no’ come back again.

Will ye no’ come back again?
Will ye no’ come back again?
Better lo’ed ye canna be,—
Will ye no’ come back again?

Ye trusted in your Hieland men,
They trusted you, dear Charlie;
They kent you hiding in the glen,
Death or exile braving.

English bribes were a’ in vain;
An’ e’en tho puirer we maun be,
Siller canna buy the heart
That beats aye for thine and thee.

We watch’d thee in the gloamin’ hour,
We watch’d thee in the mornin’ grey;
Tho’ thirty thousand pound they’d gi’e,
Oh, there is nane that wad betray.

Sweet’s the laverock’s note and lang,
Liltin’ wildly up the glen;
But aye to me he sings ae sang,
Will ye no come back again?