Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne

The Attainted Scottish Nobles

Air — "The Attainted Scottish Nobles."

Oh, some will tune their mournfu' strains,
to tell of hame-made sorrow,
And if they cheat you o' your tears,
They'll dry afore the morrow.
Oh, some will sing their airy dreams,
In verity they're sportin',
My sang's o' nae sic thewless themes,
But wakin', true misfortune.

Ye Scottish nobles, ane and a',
For loyalty attainted,
A nameless bardie's wae to see
Your sorrows unlamented;
For if your fathers ne'er had fought
For heirs of ancient royalty,—
Ye're down the day that might hae been
At the top o' honour's tree a'.

For old hereditary right,
For conscience's sake they stoutly stood;
And for the crown their valiant sons
Themselves have shed their injured blood;
And if their fathers ne'er had fought
For heirs of ancient royalty,
They're down the day that might ha' been
At the top o' honour's tree a'.