In the sombre streets of London I was...

In the sombre streets of London I was wandering a-moping
'Mid their melancholy murmurs and their multitudes of cries,
When I heard a thrilling sound that set my gloomy heart a-hoping,
And my long and weary groping was forgot in glad surprise:

For I heard the pipers piping -- the Scottish pipers piping,
And the 'prisoned blood leapt from my heart, and free, rejoicing ran;
The pipes sang out "For Scotland ! For Scotland, Bonnie Scotland!"
And my heart cried back "For Scotland! For Scotland and the Clan!"

I trod the bracken once again, and sniff'd the musky heather,
The Highland air was on my brow -- my genial native air.
Oh ! Scotland is our mother, and we Scots are bound together
By a loved and loving tether, and we're brothers everywhere.

And I heard the pipers piping, etc.

And that gallant band came marching, with their jaunty tartans streaming,
Thro' the sombre streets of London when my heart was aching sore.
And cheer'd my mind with memories and joyful fancies teeming;
Then my comfort was but dreaming -- I would dream for evermore.

And I heard the pipers piping, etc.

About the headline (FAQ)

Authorship

• by Bernard Malcolm Ramsay , "For Scotland", appears in London Lays and Other Poems, in London Lays, London: Elliot Stock, pages 4-6, first published 1903 [ author's text checked 1 time]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

• by (Mary) Frances Allitsen, née Bumpus (1848 - 1912), "The Scottish pipers", published 1902 [voice and piano], London: Chappell & Co. [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]

Text added to the website: 2012-08-20.
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:05:02
Line count: 18
Word count: 189

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