The waves of the sea are moaning and mourning
For Mac Crimmon that’s gone to find no returning.
No more, etc.
No more on the hill at the festal meeting
The pipe shall sound with the festal greeting,
And lads and lasses change mirth to mourning,
For him that’s gone to know no returning.
No more, etc.”
The story of the origin of the tune which I have given is that generally accepted as historically accurate. There is, however, a tradition that after the passing of the Heritable Jurisdiction Bill in 1747 practically abolished the office of hereditary piper, Donald Dubh Mac Crimmon, the last of the race, who died in 1822 at the age of ninety-one, composed the lament on his departure for Canada. The sentiment is hardly that which one might expect from a departing emigrant, but rather what a piper might give expression to on leaving for the wars, a fact which tells against the tradition. Nevertheless, the tune has been turned into an emigrant’s farewell on many occasions, and the last verse of Sir Walter Scott’s composition connected with the tune, shows that the poet accepted the air as such, to some extent at least:—
Mac Leod’s wizard flag from the grey castle sallies,