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about

Rob Roy McGregor, Scotland's answer to Robin Hood or Hoodlum, was indeed a very famous character who has become legend, folk lore and received the ultimate accolade of having places named after him. (Rob Roy's Leap: A famous Scottish chasm over 50 feet wide. Whilst being chased by English soldiers Rob Roy found his only means of escape was to jump over this awe inspiring canyon. Having, however, less than a six foot run up this seemed a truly impossible task but, with a stout heart and a handful of porridge (or a gutful of stout and a heartful of courage), he ran with all his strength, tripped over a stone and plummeted 200 feet to his death.) His sons, however, are best forgotten. Rape, murder, pillage and cattle rustling made them a bunch of real rotten expletives.

lyrics

McGregor o' the heilan' clan ye left five sons and no' a man
Your motley crew dae a' they can tae terrorize the border
Young Jamie we' his fourteen weans, ne'er a steek tae claed their banes
Wi' idle lands and little brains cause nothing but disorder

McGregor o you've left your gun tae Robin Oidh your second son
Noo poor McLaren's days are done, Jamie's ta'en his cattle
He's led them af at early dawn, your widow Ellen led them on
She'd better see that they are gone, or be prepared for battle

McGregor o your kith and kin have loupit ower the loch and linn
A wife o' Robin they maun bin, pick on one wi' plenty
Young Jamie's taen a widow tree, wi' mansion hoose for a' tae see
Her mother just for company, and Jean was barely twenty

McGregor a tae see them go intae the hills abune Glencoe
The rascals noo are lyin' low, hope for Jeannie's favours
But she would spurn the rogue's embrace, her tempered wrath was
hard tae face
They swore they'd put her in her place, and on her best behavior

McGregor o if you could see the pleedin' in the lassie's e'e
I'm sure ye'd set the widow free, it's cruel tae hear her sobbin'
Against her will though she be led, and ae man force her tae the bed
Arm up the kirk where they are wed. She'll ne'er submit tae Robin

McGregor o it's drawing near, this time the law will mak' it clear
The rascal's days are short I fear, hands are on the lever
The gallows noo will have its chance, Jamie's fled awa' tae France
He'll no' be here tae see Rab dance. In Hell they'll meet thegither

credits

from The Old Woman's Dance, released January 1, 1978
Imlach-Wardrop

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