by Sir Alexander Boswell (1775 - 1822)
Argyle is my name, ‑‑ and you may think...
Language: English
Argyle is my name, -- and you may think it strange, To live at a court, and yet never to change: To faction, or tyranny, equally foe, The good of the land's the sole motive I know. The foes of my country and king I have fac'd, In city or battle I ne'er was disgrac'd, I've done what I could for my country's weal; Now I'll feast upon bannocks o' barleymeal. Ye riots and revels of London, adieu; And folly, ye foplings, I leave her to you. For Scotland, I mingled in bustle and strife; For myself, I seek peace, and an innocent life: I'll haste to the Highlands, and visit each scene With Maggie my love, in her rockley o' green; On the banks of Glenary what pleasure I feel, While she shares my bannock o' barleymeal! And if it chance Maggie should bring me a son, He shall fight for his king, as his father has done; I'll hang up my sword with an old soldier's pride; O! may he be worthy to wear't on his side. I pant for the breeze of my lov'd native place; I long for the smile of each welcoming face; I'll aff to the Highlands as fast's I can reel, And feast upon bannocks o' barleymeal.
About the headline (FAQ)
GlossaryBannocks = A flat cake toasted on a girdle
Barleymeal = barley flour
Rockley = cloak
Authorship:
- by Sir Alexander Boswell (1775 - 1822) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Bannocks o' barleymeal", JHW XXXII/3 no. 194, Hob.XXXIa no. 171. [text verified 1 time]
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Variations on Bannocks o' barleymeal", JHW. XXXII/3 no. 265. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2009-08-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 213