Donald McGillavry

Trad

Donald’s gane up the hill hard and hungry
Donald comes down the hill wild and angry
Donald will clear the gouk’s nest cleverly
Here’s to the king and Donald McGillavry
Come like a weighbauk, Donald McGillavry
Come like a weighbauk, Donald McGillavry
Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly
Off wi’ the counterfeit, Donald McGillavry

Donald’s run o’er the hill but his tether, man
As he were wud, or stang’d wi’ an ether, man
When he comes back, there’s some will look merrily
Here’s to King James and Donald McGillavry
Come like a weaver, Donald McGillavry
Come like a weaver, Donald McGillavry
Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly
Gie them full measure, my Donald McGillavry

Donald has foughten wi’ rief and roguery
Donald has dinner’d wi banes and beggary
Better it were for Whigs and Whiggery
Meeting the devil than Donald McGillavry
Come like a tailor, Donald McGillavry
Come like a tailor, Donald McGillavry
Push about, in and out, thimble them cleverly
Here’s to King James and Donald McGillavry

Donald’s the callan that brooks nae tangleness
Whigging and prigging and a’newfangleness
They maun be gane: he winna be baukit, man
He maun hae justice, or faith he’ll tak it, man
Come like a cobler, Donald McGillavry
Come like a cobler, Donald McGillavry
Beat them, and bore them, and lingel them cleverly
Up wi’ King James and Donald McGillavry

Donald was mumpit wi’ mirds and mockery
Donald was blinded wi’ blads o’ property
Arles ran high, but makings were naething, man
Lord, how Donald is flyting and fretting, man
Come like the devil, Donald McGillavry
Come like the devil, Donald McGillavry
Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly
Up wi’ King James and Donald McGillavry

gouk’s nest = cuckoo’s nest (a gouk’s also a fool)
weighbauk = scales
but his tether = without/off his leash
wud, or stang’d wit’ an ether, man = mad, or stung with an adder
elwand = rod that measures an ell, a length of measure no longer used
callan that brooks nae tangleness = a fine fellow who doesn’t hold with schemes
winna be baukit = won’t be balked, held back
lingel = a shoemaker’s thread
mumpit wi’ mirds = lulled with flattery
Arles = Thrashing
Skelp them and scauld them = chastise (specifically a slap with the flat of the hand) and scold them.