As I cam on, and further on,
And doun and by Harlaw,
They fell fu' close on ilka side,35
Sic straiks ye never saw.
They fell fu' close on ilka side,
Sic straiks ye never saw;
For ilka sword gaed clash for clash,
At the battle o' Harlaw.40
The Hielandmen wi' their lang swords,
They laid on as fu' sair,
And they drave back our merry men,
Three acres breadth and mair.
Brave Forbés to his brother did say,45
"O brother, dinna ye see?
They beat us back on ilka side,
And we'll be forced to flee."
"O na! O na! my brother dear,
O na! that mauna be!50
You'll tak your gude sword in your hand,
And ye'll gang in wi' me."
Then back to back the brothers brave
Gaed in amang the thrang,
And they swept doun the Hielandmen,55
Wi' swords baith sharp and lang.
The first ae straik that Forbés strack,
He gar'd Mac Donnell reel;
And the neist ae straik that Forbés strack,
The brave Mac Donnell fell.60
And siccan a Pitlarichie
I'm sure ye never saw,
As was amang the Hielandmen,
When they saw Mac Donnell fa'.
And when they saw that he was dead,65
They turn'd and ran awa',
And they buried him in Legate's Den,
A large mile frae Harlaw.