The Battle of Harlaw was an actual event that happened in the year 1411 and I think (based on history books I've read) this whole melee began over, of all things, a woman's dowry and worldly possessions which she selflessly gave up to enter a convent to become a nun.
Well, two of her relatives, The Regent of Buchan, and Lord MacDonald of the Isles (both related to her through marriage) both laid claim to her discarded belongings -- alas this wisnae bawbles or claes, nor sheep or farm implements, instead it was the Earldom of Rossshire and with it came huge tracts of land and wealth.
Of course, the two men both agreed to disagree who was rightful heir to these so they agreed to take their fight outside... Soon there were two armies began marching towards Aberdeenshire, one led by Lord MacDonald and Red Hector (of the MacLeans), the other sent by the Regent of Buchan and led by the Earl of Mar (not sure if the Regent fought or just sent an army led by someone else to fight in his place -- still new to this history stuff) they faced off in a town called Harlaw.
Now... the King of England had promised lend support to the MacDonalds (in this fight), but it's said instead he sat back and just watched MacDonald and the Earl duke it out. A side note...Back in that time period, the MacDonalds, MacLeans and Douglases had almost as much land and power as the monarchy and, as Scottish history teaches us time and time again, the English kings had their own agenda, and aye, this king did too when it came to this particular fight... I guess in a an odd sort of way you could he had a wee bet riding on it...Well the battle waned on for three days and had the MacDonalds and MacLeans
been successful it would have given them even greater power and control over
the Highlands and this very well would have radically changed the course of
British history... Instead this battle, one of the bloodiest in Scottish History
(and I dare say there were many--all grizzly) wound up in a draw and by the
time it was over, the blood of many thousand dead men now stained the clay.
The MacDonalds quietly rode off into the western sunset and would never to rise
up again, Red Hector, a MacLean Chieftain who'd gone to help his ally in his
cause also lay dead on the battlefield.
Today you can still visit the field that was the actual site of "Reid Harlaw"
(Red Harlaw). It's located in Aberdeenshire. It's north-west of Aberdeen (the
city) and sort of North-East from Braemar. I'm not sure, but I believe
Bennachie (which is another place in Aberdeenshire you'll find told
of in a song here) and the Mither Tap are pretty close by. There is a large
granite monument on the site commemorating the men who died on that day which
is now forever preserved in song.
Oh...and what ever happened to the lass' dowry?
Well, after the battle her belongings remained unclaimed for a long period of
time and, if I understand the twisted web that is Scottish History (and it reads
better than a good soap opera), the huge tracts of land and all the benefits
that came with them eventually became property of the English crown due something
called forfeiture... Alas in an ironic twist, patience can be a virtue... I
guess you could say Henry's wee bet on the outcome of the battle paid off in
a big way...
Alas... this tune is set in a major key, was major keys are often synonymous
with happy words and melodies. The chorus is downright light and bubbly, and,
dare I say it's this tune is a heck of a lot of fun to sing (audiences love
this tune because the chorus is so easy to remember). Of course, when you really
listen to the lyrics, it's downright macabre!
I transcribed the melody based on a version I learned from my favorite version
of this tune as sung by Ian F. Benzie on the Old Blind Dog's Lochshore
recording "Five." . I can't include that actual arrangement (as actual
arrangements fall under copyright regulations) though it's worth a listen, they
really did a wonderful job with dynamic changes by using various textures and
timbres. I am, however, able to provide the stripped down version with just
a basic melody, a chord progression and have included the melody in two key
centers. Because this tune shifts (or modulates) between the two closely related
keys of D and A it's a great study tool to help music students learn about pivot
chord modulations (in the harmony) as well as a prepared modulation (in the
melody). You'll hear how seamless it is in the midi
file.
I'm not sure if the original ballad actually contained this modulation or not,
but the key shift (up a fifth) adds additional drama to the song. I believe
this style of narrative songs is known as a Muckle Ballad. Based on the narrow
range of the melody, I'm also guessing this tune quite possibly began as a pipe
tune, and if that's the case, due to the pipe's limited pitch range, it would
have remained in a single key from the beginning to the end of the tune. Alas,
if anyone knows anything about this tune and would like to add your
two pence...
please email the site (by clicking here). In the meantime, I'm always searching
for information and as soon as I know more about this tune I'll post that...
Lyrics:
I cam' in by Dunideer and doon by Nether Ha'
There were fifty thousand' heilan' men a-marchin' tae Harlaw
Chorus: Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe
and a diddy aye o' aye ay
As I gaed on an' farther on and doon an' by Balquhain
Oh it's there I saw Sir James the Rose and wi' him John the Graeme
(Chorus)
"It's cam' ye fae the Heilan's man, cam' ye a' the wey?
Saw ye MacDonald and his men as they cam' in fae Skye?"
(Chorus)
"It's I was near and near eneuch that I their numbers saw
There was fifty thoosan' heilan' men a-marchin' tae Harlaw"
(Chorus)
Gin that be true," says James the Rose, "We'll no cam' muckle speed
We'll cry upon wir merry men and turn wir horse's heid"
(Chorus)
"Oh na, o' na," says John the Graeme, "This thing will nivver be"
The gallant Graemes wis nivver beat, we'll try fit we can dae
(Chorus)
Well, as I gaed on an' further on an' doon an' by Harlaw
There fell fu' close on ilka side sic straiks ye nivver saw
(Chorus)
There fell fu' close on ilka side sic straiks ye nivver saw
An' ilka sword gaed clash for clash at the Battle of Harlaw
(Chorus)
The Heilan' men wi' their lang swords, they laid on us fu' sair
And they drave back wir merry men three acres breadth and mair
(Chorus)
Forbes tae his brither did say, "Noo brither, can't ye see
They've beaten us back on ilka side and we'll be forced tae flee
(Chorus)
Oh na, na, my brither bold, this thing will nivver be
Ye'll tak yer guid sword in yer haun', ye'll gang in wi' me
(Chorus)
Well, it's back tae back the brithers bold gaed in amangst the thrang
And they drave back the heilan' men wi' swords baith sharp and lang
(Chorus)
An' the firstan stroke that Forbes struck, he gart MacDonald reel
An' the neistan straik that Forbes struck, the brave MacDonald fell
(Chorus)
An siccan a ptlairchie o' the likes ye nivver saw
As wis amangst the Heilan' men fan they saw MacDonald fa'
(Chorus)
Some rade, some ran and some did gang, they were o' sma' record
For Forbes and his merry men, they slew them on the road
(Chorus)
O' fifty thoosan' Heilan' men, but fifty-three gaed hame
And oot o' a' the Lawlan' men, fifty marched wi' Graeme
(Chorus)
Gin onybody spier at ye for them that marched awa'
Ye can tell them plain and very plain they're sleepin' at Harlaw
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe
and a diddy aye o' aye ay
On the version I know the lyrics tend to modulate up a fifth at aproximately 2/3rds of the way into the tune...