From the recording Better Late Than Never
If you drive up the A9 in Scotland, about 40 miles beyond Inverness you'll eventually come to the turnoff for the A949 and the village of Clashmore. The song started out as a guitar noodle then, during lockdown 2020, a friend heard it and suggested I write some words. I have no idea who the man is, or which king it is. All I know is that he loved the land he lived in, and he loved his wife and family even more. Did he come back? What happened to his two young sons and his wife? I'll let you decide.
Lyrics
I have climbed the high mountains and walked up on the shore
I have trodden the valleys so free
I have lain in the sun on the wild heather moors
Watching osprey fly high over me.
I have eaten my fill with good friends all around
Making merry and drinking with glee
Played the fool, played the pipes, sang a song and shared a joke
With my bonnie lass there upon my knee
But now I must away and leave this all behind me
Our king he goes to war and I must with him go
With musket fife and drum, marching with my comrades
All to a distant land, to fight a foreign foe
So goodbye to my family, my wife who I adore
And farewell to my bonny Clashmore
I have sat by the fire with my bairns upon my knee
Telling legends and stories of yore
Watching sleepy eyes close, as you take them from me
Dream my children, for I have to go to war
For now I must away and leave you both behind me
Our king he goes to war and I must with him go
With musket fife and drum, marching with my comrades
All to a distant land to fight a foreign foe
So goodbye to my family, my wife who I adore
And farewell to my bonny Clashmore
Mar sin leabh and farewell, oh will I see thee again
Will my eyes behold beauty so true
Remember I'm yours, you forever will be mine
In my heart I will always love you
So now I must away and leave my love behind me
For I must go to war and you must watch me go
With musket fife and drum, marching with my comrades
All to a distant land to fight a foreign foe