trad
Archie Fisher recorded in 1976 on The Man With a Rhyme, where he wrote: "I have a soft spot for the Chief Lochiel mentioned in this song, for the story goes that he talked Prince Charlie out of ransacking my native city of Glasgow when its burghers refused to supply the retreating Jacobite army with shoes and supplies. Charlie was not always as welcome in some places as this song implies. If he had been, the result of the '45 rebellion might have been very different." doited = foolish, childish. Daurna = dare not. Shiel = highland cottage.
The prince who should oor king hae been, he wore the royal red and green
A bonnier lad was never seen than our brave royal Charlie
Chorus:
Oh, ye’ve been lang a-comin’,
Lang, lang, lang a’comin’
Oh, ye’ve been lang a-comin’,
Welcome royal Charlie
Since oor true king was sent awa’
A doited German rules us a’
And we are forced against the law
For the right belongs to Charlie
We daurna brew a peck o’ malt
Or German Geordie finds a fault
And for oor kail we’d scarce get salt
For the want o’ royal Charlie
When Charlie in the hielan’ shiel
Forgithered wi’ the great Lochiel
Oh what kindness did prevail
Atween the chief and Charlie
At Falkirk and at Prestonpans,
Supported by oor heilan clans
He broke the Hanoverian bands;
The right belongs to Charlie