Forfar Sodger

In Forfar County I was born
But faith I div think shame, sir
Tae tell o' the weary life I led
Afore I left my hame, sir
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

My faither was a weaver poor
As ever filled a spool, sir
And never was meat cam tae wir door
But jist a pun' at Yule, sir
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

When I was six I gaed tae school
Because it was the fashion
And every Sunday tae the kirk
Tae save me o' a thrashin'
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

They learnt me there tae read and write
And learnt the rule o' three, sir
But a nobler thought cam tae my mind
A sodger I would be, sir
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

So I gaed doon tae Forfar toon
All in the Forfar County
And I signed up wi' Sergeant Brown
For forty pounds o' bounty
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

They gaed me clothes tae hap ma back
And mittens for my hands, sir
Swore I was the bravest chiel
In a' the Hielan clan, sir
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

We spent the maist o' a' our time
Just marchin' up and doon, sir
Wi' a feather bonnet tae wir cap
And poorthered tae wir croon, sir
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

But fegs they gart me change my tune
And sent me off tae Spain, sir
Where forty regiments in a row
Came marchin' o'er the plain, sir
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

For three long days and nichts we fought
I thought 'twould never end, sir
'Til a bullet came fustlin' through my leg
And I up and fired again, sir
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

The surgeon came and dressed my wounds
They said I would be lame, sir
But I got hud o' some oxter staffs
And I came hirplin' hame, sir
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh

Noo a' the things that I've been through
I've scarcely time tae mention
For noo I'm back in Forfar shire
And living frae my pension
Hurra, hurra, wi my tilt a fal air al aye doh