The Braes o' Killiecrankie by Robert Burns
A proudly dressed lad is asked whether he has come by Killiecrankie. He replies that anyone who had witnessed the sights on the Braes o’ Killiecrankie would not be so cheerful. Though he has fought on land, at sea, and at home with his auntie, he found the devil and Dundee there. He tells how bauld Pitcur fell in a furrow and Clavers received a clankie, while he narrowly avoided becoming food for an Athole gled.
By Robert Burns · Genre: Historical ballad, Scottish folk song, War poetry · 202 words
First lines
Where hae ye been sae braw, lad? / Whare hae ye been sae brankie, O? / Whare hae ye been sae braw, lad? / Cam ye by Killiecrankie, O?
Chorus. -An ye had been whare I hae been, / Ye wad na been sae cantie, O; / An ye had seen what I hae seen, / I' the Braes o' Killiecrankie, O.
I faught at land, I faught at sea, / At hame I faught my Auntie, O; / But I met the devil an' Dundee, / On the Braes o' Killiecrankie, O. / An ye had been, &c.
The bauld Pitcur fell in a furr, / An' Clavers gat a clankie, O; / Or I had fed an Athole gled, / On the Braes o' Killiecrankie, O. / An ye had been, &c.
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Genres
- Historical ballad — The song recounts the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689, invoking historical figures including Dundee, Clavers, Pitcur, and Atholl.
- Scottish folk song — Its Scots dialect, repeated chorus, oral-song structure, and regional setting strongly align it with Scottish folk-ballad tradition.
- War poetry — The speaker describes fighting on land and sea and portrays the violent aftermath of battle, including fallen combatants and predatory birds.
- Jacobite song — Its subject is the Jacobite victory at Killiecrankie under Viscount Dundee, making it closely associated with Jacobite political and military tradition.
Tags
Scottish vernacular poetry · Scots language · Jacobite conflict · Battle of Killiecrankie · 1689 Scotland · Scottish Highlands · warfare · battlefield aftermath · soldier's testimony · military satire · dark humor · martial bravado
What this Textopian page supports
The Braes o' Killiecrankie is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical ballad, Scottish folk song, War poetry, Jacobite song, Narrative poetry
- Length: 202 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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