Meaning in English

Originally posted by Edgedale
Original Scottish Version
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid

Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me

Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Any Scottsmen know what it means?

Well I'm welsh, but I can give you a translation;

Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone

When they come I will stand my ground
Stand my ground I�ll not be afraid

Thoughts of home take away my fear
Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears

Once a year say a prayer for me
Close your eyes and remember me

Never more shall I see the sun
For I fell to a Germans gun

Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone

Where before many more have gone

It is a poem in memory of Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie of the Seaforth Highlanders. He died like countless others in WW1. It features as a song in the Mel Gibson film, "We Were Soldiers."

That's a perfect translation - well done! It's always nice to see things in Scots, even if it is something as tragic as a war poem.

Ohhh i love the Scots!!! I love Scotland and it's castles!!!!

Actually I refer the listen the scots speak like that compare to the english Englishs speak... ahhhh too British!!!!!

Strange that I understand better than the pure english speak.

Thanks lad

Abbreviated, SMS version for the impatient ones: "I've been shot & I'm gonna die. Others have, too. Pity."

On the subject of sad, memorial-type songs, does anyone know the translation of "Gortoz a Ran" by Denez Prigent, featured in the film Blackhawk Down?

I have used it at memorials for fallen comrades.

Thanks,

Scott

Edgedale wrote:Ohhh i love the Scots!!! I love Scotland and it's castles!!!!

Actually I refer the listen the scots speak like that compare to the english Englishs speak... ahhhh too British!!!!!

Strange that I understand better than the pure english speak.

Thanks lad

As much as i love the scots (JV 😉 ) my ears burn at the language. its even worse when they are half irish *faint* ......my brain cant just decipher all that code!! :? :tongue:

N/A wrote:Abbreviated, SMS version for the impatient ones: "I've been shot & I'm gonna die. Others have, too. Pity."

LoooooLLL 😃

I've just watched "We Were Soldiers" and that song stands out a mile! I decided to check it out on the net and found this thread. I'm off to see if I can download it from somewhere.

I'm Scottish and proud that we can encapsulate the world with our dull set tones!

Wha's like us, eh Rabbie?

tastie_sandwich wrote:I've just watched "We Were Soldiers" and that song stands out a mile! I decided to check it out on the net and found this thread. I'm off to see if I can download it from somewhere.

I'm Scottish and proud that we can encapsulate the world with our dull set tones!

Wha's like us, eh Rabbie?

I've done exactly what you've done so far and now I wonder if you had any success in downloading (or permanently borrowing) the song. Is the title of it "Edgedale"?

Thanks,
just me

The songs title is Sgt. MacKenzie

Sgt. Charles S. MacKenzie of the Seaforth Highlanders was killed in a German bayonet charge during WWI while defending a seriously wounded friend and comrade.
Sgt. MacKenzie was written by Joe Kilna MacKenzie his great-grandson's as a tribute to this brave Scottish soldier.

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I'm American and I could translate that... <.< Anyhow, it is a good song and the language is nice. it's gutteral and yet fluid, like English english but the contrasts are more pronounced