Wha’ll Be King But Charlie - Scottish Jacobite anthem

Wha’ll be King But Charlie by Alastair McDonald from the album “Bonnie Prince Charlie“. “Wha’ll Be King But Charlie“, also known as “The News From Moidart“, is a Scottish folk song about the Jacobite rising of 1745, written by Carolina Nairne in support of Charles Edward Stuart (also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie) some time in the late 1700s. It is sung to the tune of “The Tidy Woman“, an Irish jig. Lyrics for this version below: The news fae Moidart cam yestreen Will soon gar mony ferlie For ships o war hae just come in And landed Royal Charlie Chorus: Come through the heather, around him gather Ye’re a’ the welcomer early Around him cling wi a’ your kin For wha’ll be King but Charlie? Come through the heather, around him gather Come Ronald, come Donald, come a together And crown your rightfu lawfu King For wha’ll be King but Charlie? The Hieland clans wi sword in hand Frae John o Groats tae Airlie Hae tae a man declared tae stand Or fa wi royal Charlie The Lowlands are baith great an sma Wi mony a lord an laird hae Declared for Scotia’s King an Law An spier ye, wha but Charlie? There’s ne’er a lass in a’ the land But vows baith late and early She’ll ne’er tae man gie heart or hand That wadna fecht for Charlie Sae here’s a health tae Charlie’s cause And be’t complete and early His very name oor hert’s bluid wairms Tae arms for Royal Charlie