MacKrimmon's Lament
MacLeod's wizard flag from the grey castle sallies,
The rowers are seated, unmoor'd are the galleys;
Gleam war-axe and broadsword, clang target and quiver,
As Mackrimmon sings, "Farewell to Dunvegan for ever!
Farewell to each cliff, on which breakers are foaming;
Farewell, each dark glen, in which red-deer are roaming;
MacLeod may return, but Mackrimmon shall never!
"Farewell the bright clouds that on Quillan are sleeping;
Farewell the bright eyes in the Dun that are weeping;
To each minstrel delusion, farewell! - and for ever -
Mackrimmon departs, to return to you never!
The
Banshee's
wild voice sings the death-dirge before me,
The pall of the dead for a mantle hangs o'er me;
But my heart shall not flag, and my nerves shall not shiver,
Though devoted I go - to return again never!
"Too oft shall the notes of Mackrimmon's bewailing
Be heard when the Gael on their exile are sailing;
Dear land! to the shores whence unwilling we sever,
Return - return - return shall we never!
Cha till, cha till, cha till sin tuille!
Cha till, cha till, cha till sin tuille,
Cha till, cha till, cha till sin tuille,
Gea thillis MacLeod, cha till Mackrimmon!"
MacKrimmon; McCrimmon; MacCrimmon; MacGrummen; etc.: The most famous piping family in history. Arguably 8 generations hereditary pipers to the clan of MacLeod of Skye, beginning in the 1500's. The early history of this family is extremely obscure, and is subsequently traditional, with faeries included. They are still renowned for their extraordinary bagpiping talents. For a recording of the original Lament (written in Gaelic at the time of the Rout of Moy, 1745-6), refer to this website : http://www.macjams.com/song/22577It's very likely that Sir Walter Scott wrote this in the year 1815, when he took a tour of Dunvegan. In his Journal for 24th of August, he says, "MacLeod's hereditary is called MacCrimmon, but the present holder of this office has risen above his profession. He is an old man, a Lieutenant in the army, and a most capital piper, possessing about 200 tunes, most of which will probably die with him, as he declines to have any of his sons instructed in the art. He plays to MacLeod and his Lady, but only in the same room, and maintains his minstrel image by putting on his bonnet as soon as he begins to play. These MacCrimmons formerly kept a college in Skye for teaching the pipe music. MacLeod's present piper is of the name but scarcely as yet a deacon of his craft. He played every day at dinner." That Lieutenant was Donald Ruadh MacCrimmon (b. 1743, died in London, 1825), who was nephew to Donald Bann MacCrimmon. Donald Bann is supposed to have written the original lament, or at least the music for it, before he went off to battle in the Rout of Moy and was killed. His sister is considered to have written the original lyrics.
