Dark Lochnagar - The Corries

Away ye grey landscapes, ye gardens o' roses

In you let the minions of luxury rove

And restore me the rocks where the snowflake reposes

If still they are sacred to freedom and love

Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains

Round their white summits though elements war

Though cataracts roar 'stead of smooth-flowing fountains

I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar

Ah!

there my young footsteps in infancy wandered

My cap was the bonnet, my cloak was the plaid

On chieftains departed my memory lingered

As daily I strayed through the pine-covered glade

I sought not my home till the day’s dying glory

Gave place to the rays o' the bright polar star

My fancy was cheered by the bold martial story

As told by the sons o' dark Lochnagar

Years have rolled on, Lochnagar, since I left you

Years must roll on ere I see you again

Though Nature of verdure and flowers bereft you

Yet still art thou dearer than Albion’s plain

England!

thy beauties are tame and domestic

To one who has roved on the mountains afar

Oh for the crags that are wild and majestic

The steep frowning glories o' wild Lochnagar

Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains

I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar

Ill-starred now the brave, did no vision foreboding

Tell you that fate had forsaken our cause?

Yet were you destined to die at Culloden

Though victory crowned not your fall with applause

Yet were you happy in death’s earthly slumber

To sleep wi' your clan in the caves of Braemar

The pibroch resounds to the piper’s loud number

Your deeds to the echoes of wild Lochnagar

Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains

I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar