JOCK TO THE FIRST ARMY

O Rab an’ Dave an’ rantin’ Jim,

    The geans were turnin’ reid

When Scotland saw yer line grow dim,

    Wi’ the pipers at its heid;

Noo, i’ yon warld we dinna ken,

    Like strangers ye maun gang—

‘We’ve sic a wale o’ Angus men

    That we canna weary lang’

An’ little Wat — my brither Wat —

    Man, are ye aye the same?

Or is yon sma’ white hoose forgot

    Doon by the strath at hame?

An’ div ye mind foo aft we trod

    The Isla’s banks before ?—

—’My place is wi’ the Hosts o’ God,

    But I mind me o’ Strathmore’

It’s deith comes skirlin’ through the sky,

    Below there’s nocht but pain,

We canna see whaur deid men lie

    For the drivin’ o’ the rain;

Ye a’ hae passed frae fear an’ doot,

    Ye’re far frae airthly ill —

—’We’re near, we’re here, my wee recruit,

    An’ we fecht for Scotland still.’