Cha Till Maccruimein (Departure of the 4th Camerons) - Ewart Alan Mackintosh

The pipes in the streets were playing bravely,

⁠The marching lads went by,

With merry hearts and voices singing

⁠My friends marched out to die;

But I was hearing a lonely pibroch

⁠Out of an older war,

"Farewell, farewell, farewell, MacCrimmon,

⁠MacCrimmon comes no more."

And every lad in his heart was dreaming

⁠Of honour and wealth to come,

And honour and noble pride were calling

⁠To the tune of the pipes and drum;

But I was hearing a woman singing

⁠On dark Dunvegan shore,

"In battle or peace, with wealth or honour,

⁠MacCrimmon comes no more."

And there in front of the men were marching,

⁠With feet that made no mark,

The grey old ghosts of the ancient fighters

⁠Come back again from the dark;

And in front of them all MacCrimmon piping

⁠A weary tune and sore,

"On the gathering day, for ever and ever,

⁠MacCrimmon comes no more."

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Ewart Alan Mackintosh (1893–1917) Scotland

Source: The Muse in Arms, edited by Edward Bolland Osborn, John Murray,1917 [Wikisource]

• pibroch: a form of music for the Scottish bagpipes involving elaborate variations on a theme, typically of a martial or funerary character.
• MacCrimmon: a Scottish family that served as pipers to the chiefs of Clan MacLeod for several generations.
• Dunvegan: a village on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, famous for Dunvegan Castle, seat of the chiefs of Clan MacLeod.