by James Hogg (1770 - 1835)
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
The Highland Watch
Language: English
Old Scotia, wake thy mountain strain In all its wildest splendours! And welcome back the lads again, Your honour's dear defenders! Be every harp and viol strung', Till all the woodlands quaver: Of many a band your Bards have sung, But never hail'd a braver. Refrain Then raise the pibroch, Donald Bane, We're all in key to cheer it; And let it be a martial strain, That warriors bold may hear it. Ye lovely maids, pitch high your notes As virgin voice can sound them, Sing of your brave, your noble Scots, For glory kindles round them. Small is the remnant you will see, Lamented be the others! But such a stem of such a tree, Take to your arms like brothers. Refrain: Raise high the pibroch, Donald Bane, Strike all our glen with wonder; Let the chanter yell, and the drone notes swell, Till music speaks in thunder. What storm can rend your mountain rock, What wave your headlands shiver? Long have they stood the tempest's shock, Thou knowst they will for ever. Sooner your eye these cliffs shall view Split by the wind and weather, Than foeman's eye the bonnet blue Behind the nodding feather. Refrain: O raise the pibroch, Donald Bane, Our caps to the sky we'll send them. Scotland, thy honours who can stain, Thy laurels who can rend them!
Authorship:
- by James Hogg (1770 - 1835), "The Highland Watch" [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 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "The Highland Watch", op. 108 (25 schottische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 22 (1815) [ voice, violin, violoncello, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "Die Hochlands Wache"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-18
Line count: 39
Word count: 225
Die Hochlands Wache
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English
Alt Schottland! Wecke deiner Höh'n So wilde prächt'ge Weisen, Um deines Ruhmes Ritter schön Willkommen hier zu preisen! Stimm' alle Harfen rein und klar, So je im Wald erklungen, Denn nie hat eine kühn're Schar Dein Bardenlied gesungen! Refrain: Den Pibroch stimme, Donald Bane, Den alle noch wir ehren! Es schalle kräft'ger Heldensang, Wie Krieger gern ihn hören! Ihr holden Mägdlein, himmelan Laß eure Töne schweben! Nur Jungfraunlied, recht würdig, Kann der Schotten Ruhm erheben. Nur Wen'ge kehren heim zu euch; Der Toten denkt mit Harme! Doch shließt des edlen Stammes Zweig Gleich Brüdern in die Arme! Refrain: Hoch stimm den Pibroch, Donald Bane! Das Land vernehm' mit Staunen Der Sänger Sang, der Saiten Klang, Gleich donnernden Posaunen! Kann deiner Berge Felsenhaupt Die Windsbraut je zersplittern? Sie stehen fest, vom Sturm entlaubt, Nie wird er sie erschüttern! Doch sieht der Feind, eh' dass der Bau Der stolzen Felsen sinket, Als treulos fliehn das Käppchen blau, Wenn Häuptlings Feder winket. Refrain: O stimm den Pibroch, Donald Bane, Den Hut schwing voll Entzücken! Denn wer kann Schottlands Ruhm entweihn, Wer seine Lorbeern knicken!
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "Die Hochlands Wache" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by James Hogg (1770 - 1835), "The Highland Watch"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-18
Line count: 39
Word count: 182