CANADIAN BOAT SONG

Evening Star, Issue 15478, 28 April 1914, Page 8

CANADIAN BOAT SONG

[The controversy over the Sutherland clearances recalls the famous Canadian Boat Song, which represents the feelings of the disinherited and exiled Highlanders in Canada. The authorship of the verses, which appeared in ‘Nodes Ambrosian®’ in ‘Blackwood’s Magazine ’ for September, 1827, is attributed either to “ Christopher North ” or lo J. G. Lockhart.] I. Listen to me, as when ye heard our father Sing long ago the song of other shores; Listen to me, and then in chorus gather Ail your deep voices, as ye pull your oars: Chorus: Fair these broad meads—these hoary woods are grand; But we are exiles from our fathers’ land. n. From the lone shieling of the misty island Mountains divide us, and the waste of aeas; Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland, And we in dreams behold the Hebrides. 111. We ne’er shall tread the fancy-haunted valley. Whore ’tween the dark hills creeps the small, clear stream, In aims around the patriarch banner rally. Nor see the moon on royal tombstones gleam. IV. When the bold kindred, in the time long vanished, ° Conquer’d the soil and fortified the keep, No seer foretold the children would be banished. That a degenerate lord might boast his sheep. V. Come foreign rage—let Discord burst in slaughter! Oh, then, for clansman true and stern claymore. The hearts that would have given their blood like water Beat heavily beyond the Atlantic roar. Fair these broad meads, these hoary woods are grand; Bat we are exiles from our fathers’ land.