[Verse]
C F C F
As I cam' in by Dunideer and doon by Nether Ha'
C F Am
There were fifty thoosand' heilan' men a-marchin' tae Harlaw
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
As I gaed on an' farther on and doon an' by Balquhain
C F Am
Oh it's there I saw Sir James the Rose and wi' him John the Graeme
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
"It's cam' ye fae the Heilan's man, cam' ye a' the wye?
C F Am
Saw ye MacDonald and his men as they cam' in fae Skye?"
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
"It's I was near and near eneuch that I their numbers saw
C F Am
There was fifty thoosan' heilan' men a-marchin' tae Harlaw"
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
"Gin that be true," says James the Rose, "We'll no cam' muckle speed
C F Am
We'll cry upon wir merry men and turn wir horse's heid"
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
"Oh na, o' na," says John the Graeme, "This thing will nivver be
C F Am
The gallant Graemes wis nivver beat, we'll try fit we can dae"
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
Well, as I gaed on an' further on an' doon an' by Harlaw
C F Am
There fell fu' close on ilka side sic straiks ye nivver saw
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
There fell fu' close on ilka side sic straiks ye nivver saw
C F Am
An' ilka sword gaed clash for clash at the Battle of Harlaw
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
The Heilan' men wi' their lang swords, they laid on us fu' sair
C F Am
And they drave back wir merry men three acres breadth and mair
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
An' Forbes tae his brither did say, "Noo brither, can't ye see
C F Am
They've beaten us back on ilka side and we'll be forced tae flee"
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
"Oh na, na, my brither bold, this thing will nivver be
C F Am
Ye'll tak yer guid sword in yer haun', ye'll gang in wi' me"
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
Well, it's back tae back the brithers bold gaed in amangst the thrang
C F Am
And they drave back the heilan' men wi' swords baith sharp and lang
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
An' the firstan stroke that Forbes struck, he gart MacDonald reel
C F Am
An' the neistan straik that Forbes struck, the brave MacDonald fell
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
An siccan a ptlairchie o' the likes ye nivver saw
C F Am
As wis amangst the Heilan' men fan they saw MacDonald fa'
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
Some rade, some ran and some did gang, they were o' sma' record
C F Am
For Forbes and his merry men, they slew them on the road
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
O' fifty thoosan' Heilan' men, but fifty-three gaed hame
C F Am
And oot o' a' the Lawlan' men, fifty marched wi' Graeme
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey
[Verse]
C F C F
Gin onybody spier at ye for them that marched awa'
C F Am
Ye can tell them plain and very plain they're sleepin' at Harlaw
[Chorus]
F
Wi' a durum a drue an a dree an a drum
G C
Durum a drue drum drey