Bonnie Prince Charlie

Prince Charles Edward Stuart's attempts to free Scotland from England's rule.

(Charles Edward Stuart, grandson of King James the Second, son of exiled James the Third.)

The castles fall.
The flowers wilt.
The sea winds die.
         A tattered kilt.

Blood ran cold.
Tombstones massed.
Bracken burned.
         An unknown past.

Blood-soaked earth.
Tear-stained rain.
Rage-filled land.
         A people's pain.

Hatred faced south.
Troubles faced kin.
Hunger faced all.
         A rogue from within.

Red hair a-fire.
Brown eyes a-blaze.
Clothing a-strewn.
         A prince in the haze.

Bold folk cheered.
Red coats brought danger.
The Stuart undaunted.
         A tyrant's fierce anger.

The ladies of Inverness.
The mountains of Skye.
The halls of St. James.
         A young heir tries.

The bagpipes were silenced.
By the invasion of Tories.
No more desire to win.
         A drink drowns his worries.

He almost brought freedom.
Forced to flee to the Seine.
The man gave all, but alas.
         A sorrowful end.

Now the bagpipes play proud.
For he had fought hansomely.
But no happy endings for.
         A Bonnie Prince Charlie.