A Highland Lad My Love Was Born
By Robert Burns
Tune: The White Cockade

A highland lad my love was born
The lawland laws he held in scorn,
But he still was faithfu’ to his clan,
My gallant, braw John highlandman.

Chorus:  Sing hey, my braw John highlandman.
Sing ho, my braw John highlandman.
There’s no a lad in a’ the lan’
Was match for my John Highlandman.

Wi’ his philabeg an’ tartan plaid,
An’ guid claymore down by his side,
The ladies’ hearts he did trepan,
My gallant, braw John highlandman.

They banish’d him beyond the sea;
But, ere the bud was on the tree,
A’ down my cheeks the pearls ran,
Embracing my John highlandman.

But, oh! they catch’d him at the last,
An’ bound him in a dungeon fast:
My curse upon them every one,
They’ve hang’d my braw John highlandman.

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Music; traditional. Content copyright © 2000 held by the author; Ian Hall.