by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Johnie Armstrong
Language: English
Sum spiek o' lords, sum spiek o' lairds, And sic like men of hie degree; Of a gentleman I sing a sang, Sumtyne call'd laird of Gilnockie. The King he writes a kind letter, Wi' his ain hand sae tenderlie, And he has sent it to Johnie Armstrang, To cum and spiek wi' him speedilie. May I find grace, my sovereign Liege, Grace for my loyal men and me, For my name is Johnie Armstrang, And subject of zour's, my Liege, said he, Awa', awa', thou traytor strang, Out of my sicht thou may'st sune be, I grantit ne'ir a traytor's lyfe, And now I'll not begin wi' thee. Farweil my bonnie Gilnock-hall, Quhair on Esk side thou standest stout; Gif I had liev'd but seven zeirs mair, I wou'd haif gilt thee round about; John murd'red was at Carlingrigg, And all his gallant companie; But Scotland's heart was ne'er so wae, To see sae mony brave men die.
GLOSSARY
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Sic = such
Quhair = where
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [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), "Johnie Armstrong", Hob. XXXIa no. 109, JHW. XXXII/2 no. 109. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-28
Line count: 24
Word count: 159