The ballad is narrated by 'John Hielan'man' to Sir James the Rose (derived from the ballad of that name given earlier in the present volume) and Sir John the Gryme (Graeme). 'Macdonell' is Donald of the Isles, who, as claimant to the Earldom of Ross, advanced on Aberdeen, and was met at Harlaw by the Earl of Mar and Alexander Ogilvy, sheriff of Angus. It was a stubborn fight, though it did not last from Monday to Saturday (23), and Donald lost nine hundred men and the other party five hundred.
Child finds a difficulty with the use of the word 'she' in 4.3, despite 'me' in the two previous lines. Had it been 'her,' the difficulty would not have arisen.
1. As I cam in by Dunidier, An' doun by Netherha', There was fifty thousand Hielan'men A-marching to Harlaw. _Wi' a dree dree dradie drumtie dree_
2. As I cam on, an' farther on, An' doun an' by Balquhain, Oh there I met Sir James the Rose, Wi' him Sir John the Gryme.
3. 'O cam ye frae the Hielan's, man? An' cam ye a' the wey? Saw ye Macdonell an' his men, As they cam frae the Skee?'
4. 'Yes, me cam frae ta Hielan's, man, An' me cam a' ta wey, An' she saw Macdonell an' his men, As they cam frae ta Skee.'
5. 'Oh was ye near Macdonell's men? Did ye their numbers see? Come, tell to me, John Hielan'man, What micht their numbers be?'
6. 'Yes, me was near, an' near eneuch, An' me their numbers saw; There was fifty thousan' Hielan'men A-marchin' to Harlaw.'
7. 'Gin that be true,' says James the Rose, 'We'll no come meikle speed; We'll cry upo' our merry men, And lichtly mount our steed.'
8. 'Oh no, oh no,' says John the Gryme, 'That thing maun never be; The gallant Grymes were never bate, We'll try phat we can dee.'
9. As I cam on, an' farther on, An' doun an' by Harlaw, They fell fu' close on ilka side; Sic fun ye never saw.
10. They fell fu' close on ilka side, Sic fun ye never saw; For Hielan' swords gied clash for clash At the battle o' Harlaw.
11. The Hielan'men, wi' their lang swords, They laid on us fu' sair, An' they drave back our merry men Three acres breadth an' mair.
12. Brave Forbës to his brither did say, 'Noo, brither, dinna ye see? They beat us back on ilka side, An' we'se be forced to flee.'
13. 'Oh no, oh no, my brither dear, That thing maun never be; Tak' ye your good sword in your hand, An' come your wa's wi' me.'