A CODA to the Burns season.
An Ayr reader draws attention to the song below, dating to 1795-1796, when Britain was threatened by invasion from revolutionary France. It indicates that Burns had patriotic sentiments beyond the bounds of Scotland! The tune, Push About the Jorum, is a jaunty drinking song.
THE DUMFRIES VOLUNTEERS
Does haughty Gaul invasion threat,
Then let the louns bewaure, Sir,
There's Wooden Walls upon our seas,
And Volunteers on shore, Sir:
The Nith shall run to Corsincon,
And Criffell sink in Solway,
E'er we permit a Foreign Foe
On British ground to rally.
O, let us not, like snarling tykes,
In wrangling be divided,
Till, slap! come in an unco loun,
And wi' a rung decide it!
Be Britain still to Britain true,
Amang oursels united;
For never but by British hands
Must British wrongs be righted.
The wretch that would a Tyrant own,
And the wretch, his true-sworn brother,
Who'd set the Mob above the Throne;
May they be damn'd together!
Who will not sing, God Save the King,
Shall hang as high's the steeple;
But while we sing, God Save the King,
We'll ne'er forget The People!
rung=cudgel
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