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Translation
Index

Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat?

 

 

Burns Original

Standard English Translation

Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat?
TUNE: Push about the jorum
1.
Does haughty Gaul invasion threat?
Then let the loons beware, Sir!
There's wooden walls upon our seas
And volunteers on shore, Sir!
The Nith shall run to Corsincon,
And Criffel sink in Solway,
Ere we permit a foreign foe
On British ground to rally!
2.
O, let us not, like snarling tykes,
In wrangling be divided,
Till, slap! come in a unco loun,
And wi' a rung decide it!
Be Britain still to Britain true,
Amang oursels united!
For never but by British hands
Maun British wrangs be righted!
3.
The kettle o' the Kirk and State,
Perhaps a clout may fail in't;
But Deil a foreign tinkler loon
Shall ever ca' a nail in't!
Our father's blude the kettle bought,
And wha wad dare to spoil it,
By Heav'ns! the sacrilegious dog
Shall fuel be to boil it!
4.
The wretch that would a tyrant own,
And the wretch, his true-sworn brother,
Who would set the mob above the throne,
May they be damn'd together!
Who will not sing God save the King
Shall hang as high's the steeple;
But while we sing God save the King
We'll ne'er forget the People!

Does Haughty France Invasion Threat?
Tune (Push about the drinking jug)

Does haughty France invasion threaten?
Then let the rascals beware, Sir!
There is wooden walls (navy ships) upon our seas
And volunteers on shore, Sir!
The river Nith shall run to Corsican (Corsica ?),
And Criffel sink in Solway,
Ere we permit a foreign foe
On British ground to rally!

O, let us not, like snarling dogs,
In wrangling be divided,
Till, slap! comes in a foreign rascal,
And with a cudgel decide it!
Be Britain still to Britain true,
Among ourselves united!
For never but by British hands
Must British wrongs be righted!

The kettle of the Church and State,
Perhaps a patch may fail in it;
But Devil a foreign tinker rascal
Shall ever knock a nail in it!
Our father's blood the kettle bought,
And who would dare to spoil it,
By Heavens! the sacrilegious dog
Shall fuel be to boil it!

The wretch that would a tyrant own,
And the wretch, his true-sworn brother,
Who would set the mob above the throne,
May they be damned together!
Who will not sing God save the King
Shall hang as high as the steeple;
But while we sing God save the King
We will never forget the People!

 

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