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No. 1 - Introduction and Opening Ensemble

MIDI File

Basses I: Silence reigns! silence profound!
Watch we are keeping, making our round;
Tenors I: Watch we are keeping, making our round;
All: The hour loudly we tell:
All's well!
Tenors I: Far and near, all are asleep,
Ever our vigil lonely we keep.
Tenors II: Ever our vigil lonely we keep.
All: Far and near, are all asleep,
In silence so deep, out vigil we keep.
Basses II: Silence reigns, deep and profound,
Others are sleeping, watch we are keeping.
See! dawn is creeping over the hills;
All is well!
Tammas: As Highlanders warlike prowl at large,
A sentinel I with sword and targe;
I guard the house of the Mayor all night,
For the Mayor's in a terrible, terrible plight.
I mention it to his lasting shame
That he quakes and shakes at the very name
Of bold Rob Roy,
The Lowland's dread and the Highland's joy;
Bold Rob Roy!
He quakes and shakes when he hears the name,
Bold Rob Roy!
As Highlanders warlike prowl at large,
A sentinel I with sword and targe;
But now me thinks that forty winks
Would a weary watchman best employ.
Heigho! Rob Roy won't come to annoy
A tired-out sentinel's slumb'rous joy.
Lochiel & Highlanders:
  Wary! chary!
silently as ye may,
Come with footsteps still and stealthy,
We will make our clansmen wealthy;
We come hither hoping we may obtain
Plunder there, that the Mayor doth keep.
Highlanders: Plunder! Plunder!
Softly tread as a mouse can creep.
The cash we'll gain!
Lochiel: My friends, the money
in this house secreted...
Highlanders: Secreted!
Lochiel: Is English gold we need for Charley's cause,
Highlanders: We need the gold for Charley...
Lochiel: Who goes with me?
As patriot he'll be greeted.
Highlanders: Be greeted!
Lochiel: 'Tis for Prince Charles:
We've none but Rob Roy's laws.
Who'll go with me? who'll go with me?
Donald: I will.
James: And so will I; take me!
Lochiel: Who says the word? Who'll go with me?
Highlanders: I'll go!
Lochiel: Come then!
All: Wary! chary! silently as ye may,
Come with footsteps still and stealthy,
We will make our clansmen wealthy;
Tammas: As Highlanders warlike prowl at large,
A sentinel I with sword and targe;
Highlanders: Plunder yonder the Mayor doth keep,
Plunder! Plunder! Softly tread
as a mouse can creep.
The cash we'll gain!
Tammas: Help, help, watch ho!
Mayor: Help!
Tammas: Help, help, watch ho!
Mayor: Help, help, watch ho!
Lochiel & Highlanders:
  Away, my lads,
We're caught!
Come lads, away!
Town's people: Prithee tell us, what's the matter?
Something's happened I'm aware;
What's the cause of all the clatter?
There is trouble in the air.
Ensemble: Calls for help! The watchman's rattle!
And our worthy Mayor is out!
Is it thievery or battle?
Tell us what's it all about!
Prithee tell us, what's the matter?
Something's happen'd we're aware;
What's the cause of all the clatter?
Tell us, tell us! Now do tell us,
What's the matter, tell us now we pray!
Mayor: How dare ye, knaves, disturb me thus?
I'll shoot you with my blunderbuss;
I'm cool of nerve, and keen of aim;
I'll shoot ye in King George's name.
Lochiel & Highlanders:
  His rage we scorn;
His blunderbuss excites no fear at all in us.
Chorus: Now yield ye in King George's name;
Beware his aim.
Mayor: How dare ye, knaves, disturb me thus?
I'll shoot you with my blunderbuss;
Chorus: Beware his blunderbuss.
Tammas: Oh! spare the Mayor!
Lochiel: Highlanders back,
And scorn to touch and unarmed foe,
Rob Roy'd lament it much, if you did so!
Highlanders: We'll have revenge!
Lochiel: Back! Harm him not! Back! Harm him not!
Highlanders: We obey your orders,
Lads, harm him not.
Mayor: My lowland laddies brave and leal,
Now seize on the knaves who come to steal.
Chorus: Ay, down with them, the knaves who came to steal.
Mayor: How dare ye, knaves, disturb me thus?
I'll shoot you with my blunderbuss;
Chorus: Let's listen unto what he has to say!
Lochiel: To your arms! To your arms; for the time is close at hand
When ev'ry Scot, whose heart is true and leal,
In the Highlands or Lowlands shall battle for the land,
And for our rightful sov'reign, draw his steel;
Highlanders: To your arms!
Lochiel: Prince Charlie has landed, has come from o'er the sea,
From mountain and from glen sound alarms;
Our Rob Roy is leading his clansmen bold and free;
Let's up, and fight for Charlie: to your arms!
All: To your arms!
Lochiel: Then shout, clansmen, shout for the King that's awa'!
And forth with your falchions!
Yes, leal laddies, draw!
Then shout, clansmen, shout, for the King that's awa'!
We'll conquer or die for the King!
Chorus: Shout, clansmen, shout for the King that's awa'!
Up, lads! to arms for the King, for the King!
With claymore and targe,
We will on to the charge,
We will up, my lads, and fight for Prince Charlie.
Lochiel: Shout, clansmen! Shout, clansmen,
All: Shout, clansmen, shout, for the King!

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Page modified 18 February 2017