The Lads Of Wamphray

Twixt Girth-head and the Langwood end, Lived the Galliard, and the Galliard's men;  

But the lads of Leverhay, 

That drove the Crichton's gear away.

It is the lads of Lethenha', 

The greatest rogues amang them a*:  

The lads ofFingland, and Helbeck-hill,

They were ne'er for good, but aye for ill;

The Galliard tae Nithsdale is gane,  

Ti steal Sim Crichton's winsome dun;  

The Galliard tae the stable gane,  

But instead of the dun, the blind he has ta'en.

The Crichtons wadna let the Galliard be,

They hanged him hie upon a tree.  

Back ti Nithsdale they have gane,  

And awa' the Crichton's nout hae ta'en;

And when they cam ti the Biddes-strand,

The Crichtons they were hord at hand.

But when they cam ti the Biddes-law, 

The Johnstones bade them stand and draw;

We've done nae hurt, well tak nae wrang, Back to Wamphray we will gang 

Out spoke Wfllie o' the Kirkhill, 

'Of fighting, lads, ye'se hae your fill.'

And from his horse Willie he lap,

And a burnished brand in his hand he tak. Through the Crichtons Willie he ran, And dange them doon baith horse and man;

And hame for Wamphray they are gane,

Away the Crichtons' nout they've ta'en.  

'Drive on, my lads! it will be late;  

We'll hae a pint at Wamphray gate.

For where'er I gang, or e'er I ride,  

The lads of Wamphray are on my side;

Of a' the lads that I do ken,

The Lads o' Wamphray's the king of men.'