The battle of Killiecrankie became the subject of a song by Robert Burns, of which he wrote three verses; James Hogg wrote a few more verses for his book Jacobite Reliquies.

It's a folk song and an old one, so there are many who have sung it, such as the Mad Ferret Duo, the Irish Rovers, and John King, but the best version to my mind is this one by The Corries.

 

Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?

Whaur hae ye been sae brankie-o?

Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?

Come ye by Killiecrankie-o.

 

Chorus:

An ye had been whaur I hae been

Ye wadna been sae cantie-o

An ye had seen what I hae seen 

On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o

 

I'd fought at land, I'd fought at sea

At hame I'd fought my auntie-o

But I met the Devil and Dundee,

On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o.

(Chorus)


The bauld pit cur fell wa apar’  

And Clavers gat a clankie-o

An I had fed an Athol gled

On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o

(Chorus)

 

Oh fie, MacKay, What gart ye lie

I' the bush ayont the brankie-o?

Ye'd better kiss'd King Willie's lofe

Than come by Killiecrankie-o

(Chorus)


Tha's nae shame, tha's nae shame

Tha's nae shame tae shank ye-o

There's sour slaes on Athol braes

And the de'ils at Killiecrankie-o

(Chorus)

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