The Hundred Pipers facts for kids
"The Hundred Pipers" is a famous Scottish song. It's also a type of dance tune called a jig. The song was likely written by Lady Nairne. It became very popular starting in 1852. The song tells a story about events from the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
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What's the Story Behind the Song?
This song celebrates a moment in history. It's about when Prince Charles Edward Stuart took over the town of Carlisle. This happened on November 18, 1745. Prince Charles was leading his army into England. His army was made up of soldiers from both the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands. They had just won a battle at Prestonpans.
A history book says that Prince Charles rode into Carlisle on a white horse. One hundred pipers played their bagpipes in front of him. Their loud music didn't make the townspeople feel very confident.
The song also mentions a part where two thousand Highlanders swam across the River Esk. The river was flooded at the time. This part of the song isn't quite right for the Carlisle capture. It actually refers to a later event. This was when Prince Charles was retreating from Derby. Carlisle had already been taken back by the English. The Highlanders reached Scottish ground, not "fell English ground." But Lady Nairne combined these two events. She created a very lively and successful song. It's now a well-loved Jacobite song.
Who Wrote and Popularized the Song?
"The Hundred Pipers" is thought to be written by Lady Nairne. She was a very active songwriter during her time. Her family had supported the Jacobite cause. The words to the song appeared in her book, Lays from Strathern, in 1846.
The song wasn't printed with music until about 1852. It was published in Edinburgh as sheet music. The music was arranged by Elizabeth Rainforth. She was a soprano singer. It seems Rainforth was the one who first performed the song for the public. This was several years after Lady Nairne had passed away. Rainforth lived in Edinburgh from 1851 to 1856. Reviews from that time mention her performing the song. She published the song with her musical arrangement in 1852. This is the version we know today.
It's interesting to know that this song isn't from the actual Jacobite period. Many songs that are now called "classic Jacobite songs" were written much later. Most were composed in the late 1700s or 1800s. But they were often presented as if they were written during the Jacobite uprisings.
The exact origin of the tune isn't fully known. Even though it's listed as "Hundred Pipers" in Lady Nairne's book, no such tune was known before her song.
Modern Versions of the Song
In 1998, Scottish singer Isla St Clair recorded "The Hundred Pipers." She sang it in an old style for her album When the Pipers Play. This version was also used in a film with the same name. The film was shown on PBS Television in the United States.
In 1958, a band called Lord Rockingham's XI had a number one hit in the UK. Their song was called "Hoots Mon!" It was mostly an instrumental rock 'n' roll tune. It included Scottish phrases like "Hoots mon! There's a moose... loose... aboot this hoose!" This popular song was based on the melody of "The Hundred Pipers."
Song Lyrics
These are the words to the song, written in the Scots dialect.
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- We'll up an' gie them a blaw, a blaw
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a'.
- O it's owre the border awa', awa'
- It's owre the border awa', awa'
- We'll on an' we'll march to Carlisle ha'
- Wi' its yetts, its castle an' a', an a'.
Chorus:
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- We'll up an' gie them a blaw, a blaw
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a'.
- O! our sodger lads looked braw, looked braw,
- Wi' their tartan kilts an' a', an' a',
- Wi' their bonnets an' feathers an' glitt'rin' gear,
- An' pibrochs sounding loud and clear.
- Will they a' return to their ain dear glen?
- Will they a' return oor Heilan' men?
- Second sichted Sandy looked fu' wae.
- An' mithers grat when they march'd away.
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- We'll up an' gie them a blaw, a blaw
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a'.
- O! wha' is foremos o' a', o' a',
- Oh wha' is foremost o' a', o' a',
- Bonnie Charlie the King o' us a', hurrah!
- Wi' his hundred pipers an' a', an ' a'.
- His bonnet and feathers he's waving high,
- His prancing steed maist seems to fly,
- The nor' win' plays wi' his curly hair,
- While the pipers play wi'an unco flare.
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- We'll up an' gie them a blaw, a blaw
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a'.
- The Esk was swollen sae red an' sae deep,
- But shouther to shouther the brave lads keep;
- Twa thousand swam owre to fell English ground
- An' danced themselves dry to the pibroch's sound.
- Dumfoun'er'd the English saw, they saw,
- Dumfoun'er'd they heard the blaw, the blaw,
- Dumfoun'er'd they a' ran awa', awa',
- Frae the hundred pipers an' a', an' a'.
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',
- We'll up an' gie them a blaw, a blaw
- Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a'.
See Also
- 100 Pipers (Whisky Brand)
