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Auld
Caledonia's Queen
I’ve
travelled far in foreign lands
And
noted what I’ve seen
But
ne’er fell in wi’ views sae grand
As
lately met my een.
I’m
proud o’ this my native toon
Where
often we forgether,
And
stuffy was the crowded room
Whaur
we’ve been huddled a’ thegither.
Discussin’
knotty points o’ taste
An’
shades oot o’ position;
An’
whiles I’ve thought our time we waste
In
wandrin’ disquisition.
Ye
mauna think the waur o’ me
For
speaking truths out plainly
I’d
rather see guid honest wark
Than
boastin’ o’ it vainly.
Gang
on, then, douce young canny Scot,
Wi’
deep-set, thoughtfu’ e’e,
An’
blately bring us what ye’ve got
To
criticise an’ see.
I,
like the patient, ploddin’ lads
Who
work and dinna’ haver;
Societies
oft waste guid time
Ower
wranglin’ and palaver.
I’ve
tried to gie ye my ain thoughts
In
a plain, straightforward way;
I
trust ye’ll find a wheen o’ them
Worthy
to tak’ away
There’s
some among ye here may mind,
Wi’
tunefu’ songs at the Archer’s Ha’,
Warm-hearted
Harry Watson kind,
Troth
he entranced us a’
His
voice was clear, melodious, sweet;
He’d
music in his soul,
He’d
touch some chord that garred ye greet
While
ye quaff’d the jovial bowl.
The
truest tests o’ nature’s gifts
In
music or fine Arts
Is
when they’ve got the power to lift
An’
elevate our hearts.
His
words fell sweet upon my ear,
they
caused us true delight,
His
voice was like a clarion clear,
’Twad
haunt ye a’ the night.
Fu’
weel I mind a stern’ song,
To
roth’riemurchus’ rant,
He
wrote the words an’ some were strong,
We
a’ joined in the chant.
Fair
ye weel auld Edinburgh,
Fair
Caledonia’s Queen,
The
brawest lass in a’ the land,
That
ever I hae seen.
I’ve
tried to carry out the thought
Sae
tenderly expressed
By
ane whose memory we ought
To
cherish in our breast.
But
noo, it’s time to turn about,
An’
wish ye a’ success
My
twenty minutes maun be out,
I’ve
feenished my address.
Dr.
A Hunter -
1885
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