[67]. By Flanderkins are meant Lieutenant-General Fanderbeck and Colonels Rantzaw and Cromstrom.—Hogg.
UP AND WAR THEM A', WILLIE. See [p. 156].
From Herd's Scotish Songs, ii. 234. The same in Ritson's Scotish Songs, ii. 73. Burns furnished a somewhat different version to Johnson's Museum (p. 195, also in Cromek's Select Scotish Songs, ii. 29), which he obtained from one Tom Neil, a carpenter in Edinburgh, who was famous for his singing of Scottish songs. The title and burden to this version is Up and warn a', Willie, an allusion, says Burns, to the crantara, or warning of a Highland clan to arms, which the Lowlanders, not understanding, have corrupted. There is another copy in Hogg's Jacobite Relics, ii. 18, which is nearly the same as the following.
When the Earl of Mar first raised his standard, and proclaimed the Chevalier, the ornamental ball on the top of the staff fell off, and the superstitious High
landers interpreted the circumstance as ominous of ill for their cause. This is the incident referred to in the third stanza.
When we went to the field of war,
And to the weapon-shaw, Willie,
With true design to stand our ground,
And chace our faes awa', Willie,
Lairds and lords came there bedeen,5
And vow gin they were pra', Willie:
Up and war 'em a', Willie,
War 'em, war 'em a', Willie.
And when our army was drawn up,
The bravest e'er I saw, Willie,10
We did not doubt to rax the rout,
And win the day and a', Willie;
Pipers play'd frae right to left,
"Fy, fourugh Whigs awa'," Willie.
Up and war, &c.15
But when our standard was set up,
So fierce the wind did bla', Willie,
The golden knop down from the top
Unto ground did fa', Willie:
Then second-sighted Sandy said,20
"We'll do nae good at a', Willie."
Up and war, &c.
When bra'ly they attack'd our left,
Our front, and flank, and a', Willie,
Our bald commander on the green,