Dark Lochnagar

Away, ye gay landscapes, ye gardens of roses. In you let the minions of luxury rove. Restore me the rocks where snowflake reposes If still they are sacred to freedom and love Yet Caledonia beloved are thy mountains, Round their white summit your elements war. Tho’ cataracts foam instead of smooth flowing fountains, I sigh for the valleys of dark Lochnagarr. Ah, there my young footsteps in infancy wandered. My cap was my bonnet, my cloak was my plaid. On chieftains long perished my memories pondered As daily I strayed through the pine covered glade. I sought not my home till the days dying glory. Gave place to the rays of the bright polar star For fancy was cheered by traditional glory Disclosed by the natives of dark Lochnagarr. Shades of the dead, have I not heard your voices Rise on the night-rolling breath of the gale? Surely the soul of the hero rejoices. And rides on the wind o’er his own Highland vale Round Lochnagarr, while the stormy mist gathers, Winter presides in his cold icy car; Clouds there encircle the forms of my fathers; They dwell in the tempests of dark Lochnagarr. PLAYED SLOWLY Yet, Caledonia beloved are thy mountains I sigh for the valley of dark Lochnagarr… Ill starred now the brave did no vision foreboding. Tell you that fate had forsaken your cause How were you destined to die at Culloden? Though victory crowned not your fall with applause. Still were you happy in deaths earthly slumbers Tae sleep wi’ your clan in the caves of Braemar The pibroch resounds tae the pipers loud numbers Your deeds on the echoes o’ dark Lochnagarr. Years have rolled on Lochnagarr, since I left you Years must elapse ere I tread you again Through nature of verdure and flowers has bereft you, Yet still you are 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 sounding glories of dark Lochnagarr Repeat fading The steep sounding glories of dark Lochnagarr The steep sounding glories of dark Lochnagarr The steep sounding glories of dark Lochnagarr