I think of thee and Finorie.
O brother of my love, adieu!
Dear sisters, hide your grief from view;
Your tears suppress, your joys renew;
Be happy while at Finorie.
Farewell, ye mountains capp’d with snow;
Ye wild resorts of deer and roe;
Long may the heath-cock live to crow
Among the braes of Finorie.
But matters are still further complicated in connection with this favourite song. A gentleman from North Argyll assured the writer that another Gaelic version was in general circulation long ago in Mull and Morven. This might have been the original one by Dr Macleod himself, from which Kelly translated; and the fact that the original chorus, “Eirich agus tiugainn O,” has been known only in Gaelic favours this supposition. Surely old folks in Morven must still be able to repeat this supposed original version if it ever had existence. If so, it is to be hoped that some one will take the trouble of giving it to the world. But whoever the author was, the song has obtained unquestionable hold of the Highland heart, no doubt largely because it refers to an early event in the history of the “Highlander’s friend,” the good, genial, and large hearted Norman Macleod.