"Baron o'Brackley" genre: Celtic
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	This is a NE Scottish ballad about the murder of William Gordon of Brackley by his wife's relative Inverey, slightly shortened and sung with small changes to make the story comprehensible to modern ears. The accompaniment is on mountain dulcimer.
	MP3.com CD: O'er the Castle Wall - buy it! CD: O'er the Castle Wall   Label: MP3.com Credits: Trad. arr David Kilpatrick July 2000
	Story Behind the Song I first heard this song performed by Davie Roberston, who sings it unaccompanied or using smallpipes as a drone. There are many versions and it's in Ewan McColl's books Song and Ballads of Scotland. Lyrics Down Deeside cam' Inverey Whistlin' and playin' He's lichted at Brackley's yetts (gates) Ere the daw dawin' Saying, Baron o'Brackley, It's are yet within? There's shairp swords at yer yetts Will gar yer bluid spin! Out spake the bold baron Oer the castle wall Are ye cam tae spluyie (spoil) and plunder ma hall? If he be gentleman, licht and come in - Gin ye drink o'ma wine, Ye'll no gar ma bluid spin. His lady rose up, Tae the windae she went She's seen his kye (cattle) skippin' Oer hill and oer bent (grass) Rise up, bold Brackely, And turn back yer kye! The lads o Drumwharren Are drivin' them by! How can I rise, lady, And fetch them again? For whaur we have ae man I wot they have ten! She called tae her maries (servants) Tae come to her hand Saying, fetch her rocks (spinning weights) We will them command! (defeat) Oh kiss me, ma Peggy! How could ye say sae? Noo I must go out I must fecht Inverey Fetch me me gun For I must now away I must go out Though I'll never come hame When the Baron was ready And stood in the close (mounting place) No bonnier a callant (young man) Ever mounted a horse But whit's tae become O' his bonny young son? Whit's tae come o' him When Brackely is gone? Strike dogs! cries Inverey Fecht till yer slain! For we are fower hundret And ye're but fower men! Strike, ye prood boaster! Yer honour is gaen Yer lands I will plunder Yer castle I'll gain! At the heid o'the Etnach The battle began At Little Aucholzie (pron. Aucholyie) They killed the first man First they killed ae man And then they killed twa Then the Baron o'Bracklet The floor o'them a' They killed William Gorden And James o'the Knock And brave Alexander The flower o' Glenmuck Whit sighin' an' moanin' Wis heard in the glen For the Baron o'Brackley Wha basely was slain Cam' ye by Brackley yetts? Cam' ye by there? Saw ye Peggy Gordon A reivin' (tearing) her hair? Well ah cam' by Brackley yetts Ah wis in there But I saw Peggy Gordon A'braidin her hair She wis laughing and dancing And rantin' wi joy And she swore that ere nicht She wad feast Inverey She ate wi' him, drank wi' him Welcomed him in She was kin tae the man Wha had slain her baron! Fie on ye, Peggy How could yet dae sae? Ye have opened yer yetts Tae the fause Inverey! There's dule in the kitchen There's mirth in the ha' For the Baron o'Brackley Wha's deid and awa'!

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