Forfar Sodger

In Forfar County I was born

But faith I div think shame, sir

Tae tell o' the weary life I led

Afore I left my hame, sir

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

My faither was a weaver poor

As ever filled a spool, sir

And never was meat cam tae wir door

But jist a pun' at Yule, sir

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

When I was six I gaed tae school

Because it was the fashion

And every Sunday tae the kirk

Tae save me o' a thrashin'

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

They learnt me there tae read and write

And learnt the rule o' three, sir

But a nobler thought cam tae my mind

A sodger I would be, sir

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

So I gaed doon tae Forfar toon

All in the Forfar County

And I signed up wi' Sergeant Brown

For forty pounds o' bounty

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

They gaed me clothes tae hap ma back

And mittens for my hands, sir

Swore I was the bravest chiel

In a' the Hielan clan, sir

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

We spent the maist o' a' our time

Just marchin' up and doon, sir

Wi' a feather bonnet tae wir cap

And poorthered tae wir croon, sir

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

But fegs they gart me change my tune

And sent me off tae Spain, sir

Where forty regiments in a row

Came marchin' o'er the plain, sir

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

For three long days and nichts we fought

I thought 'twould never end, sir

'Til a bullet came fustlin' through my leg

And I up and fired again, sir

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

The surgeon came and dressed my wounds

They said I would be lame, sir

But I got hud o' some oxter staffs

And I came hirplin' hame, sir

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

Noo a' the things that I've been through

I've scarcely time tae mention

For noo I'm back in Forfar shire

And living frae my pension

Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh