Culloden's Harvest

Cold winds on the moors blow.
Warm the enemy's fires glow.
Like the harvest of Culloden,
Pain and fear and death grow.

'Twas love of our prince drove us to Drumossie,
But in scarcely the time that it takes me to tell
The flower of our country lay scorched by an army
As ruthless and red as the embers of hell.

The Campbell and McFall did the work of the English.
McDonald in anger did no work at all.
'Twas musket and cannon against honour and courage.
Invading men stood while our clansmen did fall.

None other than children are left to the women,
With only the memory of father and son.
Turned out of their homes to make shelter for strangers,
The blackest of hours on this land has begun.



Traditional Scottish, early 19th century
In the Jacobite Uprising of 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie and his army were only beaten once, but it was this loss at Culloden (or Drumossie Muir) which destroyed the Highland way of life, as exemplified by the clan system. In verse two, you will note that there were some clans that did not support the re-establishment of a Stewart upon the throne.