lundi, février 10, 2014

The Corries: Parcel o Rogues (YouTube)



An additional verse (copyright-free) for the Scottish referendum campaign -

Yes shall prevail, as Truth made plain
Does win the population.
But lies and spin remain our bane
(And those Labour eyes on ermine).
Should gross deceit bring false defeat,
We'll shout this condemnation:
The Press was vile. Most foul betrayal -
British Broadcasting Corporation.

Sic a Parcel o Rogues in a Nation 
(Though commonly attributed to Robert Burns, 1791, this song seemingly predates Burns. The "Rogues" referred to are those many members of the original Scottish Parliament who accepted bribes to vote for its abolition in 1707. The version below is as sung by The Corries.)

Fareweel tae a' oor Scottish fame,
Fareweel oor ancient glory
Fareweel ev'n tae the Scottish name,
Sae famed in martial story
Noo Sark rins ower the Solway sands
An Tweed rins tae the ocean
Tae mark where England's province stands -
Such a parcel o rogues in the nation!

What force or guile could not subdue
Through many warlike ages
Is wrought now by the coward few
For hireling traitor wages
The English steel we could disdain
Secure in valour's station
But English gold has been our bane -
Such a parcel o rogues in the nation!

O would, or I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My auld grey heid had lien in clay
Wi Bruce and loyal Wallace!
But pith and power, till my last hour
I'll mak this declaration
We're bought and sold for English gold -
Such a parcel o rogues in the nation!

Education Scotland/ Foghlam Alba
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