ballad on the american war
tune—“killiecrankie.”
when guilford good our pilot stood
an' did our hellim thraw, man,
ae night, at tea, began a plea,
within america, man:
then up they gat the maskin-pat,
and in the sea did jaw, man;
an' did nae less, in full congress,
than quite refuse our law, man.
then thro' the lakes montgomery takes,
i wat he was na slaw, man;
down lowrie's burn he took a turn,
and carleton did ca', man:
but yet, whatreck, he, at quebec,
montgomery-like did fa', man,
wi' sword in hand, before his band,
amang his en'mies a', man.
poor tammy gage within a cage
was kept at boston—ha', man;
till willie howe took o'er the knowe
for philadelphia, man;
wi' sword an' gun he thought a sin
guid christian bluid to draw, man;
but at new york, wi' knife an' fork,
sir-loin he hacked sma', man.
burgoyne gaed up, like spur an' whip,
till fraser brave did fa', man;
then lost his way, ae misty day,
in saratoga shaw, man.
cornwallis fought as lang's he dought,
an' did the buckskins claw, man;
but clinton's glaive frae rust to save,
he hung it to the wa', man.
then montague, an' guilford too,
began to fear, a fa', man;
and sackville dour, wha stood the stour,