Bonnie Dundee

Bonnie Dundee, known in his lifetime as John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, or as "Bluidy Clavers", died fighting for the Jacobite cause at the Battle of Killiecrankie and a century later was immortalised in this song based on a poem by Sir Walter Scott.

The song is the authorized regimental march for the following Canadian regiments:

The Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (gallop-past);

1st Hussars;

The Brockville Rifles;

The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders; and

The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry).

The song was parodied by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass and by Rudyard Kipling in The Jungle Book.

Lyrics

1. Tae the lairds i' convention t'was Claverhouse spoke

E'er the Kings crown go down, there'll be crowns to be broke;

Then let each cavalier who loves honour and me

Come follow the bonnets o' bonnie Dundee.

Chorus:

Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can,

Saddle my horses and call out my men.

And it's Ho! for the west port and let us gae free,

And we'll follow the bonnets o' bonnie Dundee!

2. Dundee he is mounted, he rides doon the street,

The bells they ring backwards, the drums they are beat,

But the Provost, (douce man!), says ;Just e'en let him be

For the toon is well rid of that de'il o' Dundee.

Chorus:

3. There are hills beyond Pentland and lands beyond Forth,

Be there lairds i' the south, there are chiefs i' the north!

There are brave Duniewassals, three thousand times three

Will cry "Hoy!" for the bonnets o' bonnie Dundee.

Chorus:

4. Then awa' tae the hills, tae the lea, tae the rocks

E'er I own a usurper, I'll couch wi' the fox!

Then tremble, false Whigs, in the midst o' your glee

Ye hae no seen the last o' my bonnets and me.

Chorus: