A Croft in Clachan (The Ballad of Rob MacDunn), with Glen Campbell Lyrics
(John R. Cash)
[With Glen Campbell]
Well, the Campbells and McDonalds, it was in their blood to fight
With each passing generation, it became a man's birthright
But they always had one common enemy
Never would the English Crown take Scottish independency
Oh, the battles raged in Glasgow and majestic Edinburgh
And they came with war machines and in the Highlands, shots were heard
Then the people rose in union and the forces moved as one
And the clans all joined together to see English on the run
And in a tiny croft in Clachan sat a mother, Peg MacDunn
And she sewed a coat together for her sixteen-year-old son
And she cried as he was leaving, don't forget to keep you warm
And come you back to Clachan when the English are all done
Now Rob MacDunn was ready, as he left the croft behind
And he joined the Highland Pipe Brigade with one thing on his mind
There to keep his home in freedom, he must face it like a man
So he marched in common kilties, with his musket in his hand
And he met the hell of battle in the Highlands and the Low
And the reason for the fighting, long was in his blood to know
In the middle of the rumble, he went forward, gaining ground
And the bag-pipes still were piping as the dead lay all around
-Bag-pipe Solo-
Then he moved with no direction till he faced the winds of North
And he boldly climbed the Highlands, farther from the Firth of Forth
Then one freezing blowing morning came the cry of Peg MacDunn
Back to my croft in Clachan, God has sent me home, my Son
And in another croft in Clachan, 'cross the way from the Mac Dunn's
With her face against the window, stood a young girl, tired and warm
And she smiled a secret knowing, as she breathed a prayer alone
I thank Thee Lord for bringing Rob MacDunn back safely home
-Bag-pipe Solo-
Back to the croft in Clachan, he returned to peace again
He had gone, a boy of sixteen, but he came back as a man
-Bag-pipe Solo-
