Poems and Songs of Robert Burns: Election Ballad For Westerha'

Updated May 6, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Election Ballad For Westerha'

Tune-"Up and waur them a', Willie."

The Laddies by the banks o' Nith
Wad trust his Grace[1] wi a', Jamie;
But he'll sair them, as he sair'd the King—
Turn tail and rin awa', Jamie.

Chorus.—Up and waur them a', Jamie,
Up and waur them a';
The Johnstones hae the guidin o't,
Ye turncoat Whigs, awa'!

The day he stude his country's friend,
Or gied her faes a claw, Jamie,
Or frae puir man a blessin wan,
That day the Duke ne'er saw, Jamie.
Up and waur them, &c.

But wha is he, his country's boast?
Like him there is na twa, Jamie;
There's no a callent tents the kye,
But kens o' Westerha', Jamie.
Up and waur them, &c.

To end the wark, here's Whistlebirk,
Lang may his whistle blaw, Jamie;
And Maxwell true, o' sterling blue;
And we'll be Johnstones a', Jamie.
Up and waur them, &c.
[1]

The fourth Duke of Queensberry, who supported the proposal that, during George III's illness, the Prince of Wales should assume the Government with full prerogative.

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