The Book of Scottish Song/Charlie he's my darling

Charlie he's my darling.

[Of this popular Jacobite song there are different versions. The following are the words which appear in Johnson's Museum, under the superintendence of Burns. In connection with the last stanza of this song, Sir William Gell relates an affecting anecdote of Sir Walter Scott. Sir William had the honour of acting as cicerone to Sir Walter during his last illness, when on his visit to Naples; and on one occasion, when they were toiling over a rugged pathway in the vicinity of Mount Vesuvius, Sir Walter was observed to be muttering some verses. Sir William listened, wondering what might be passing in his companion's mind, while treading a spot so rich in classical associations. But he soon found that the dying poet's heart was not in Italy, but was reverting, even there, to the scenes of his native land; for the words he caught him repeating were the close of the present song—

"It's up yon heathery mountain,
⁠And down yon scroggy glen,
We daurna gang a-milking,
⁠For Charlie and his men."]

'Twas on a Monday morning,
⁠Richt early in the year,
That Charlie cam' to our toun,
⁠The young Chevalier.

⁠And Charlie he's my darling,
⁠My darling, my darling;
⁠Charlie he's my darling,
⁠The young Chevalier.

As he was walking up the street,
⁠The city for to view,
O there he spied a bonnie lass,
⁠The window looking through.

Sae licht's he jumped up the stair,
⁠And tirl'd at the pin;
And wha sae ready as hersel',
⁠To let the laddie in!

He set his Jenny on his knee,
⁠All in his Highland dress;
For brawly weel he kenned the way
⁠To please a bonnie lass.

It's up yon heathery mountain,
⁠And down yon scroggy glen,
We daurna gang a-milking,
⁠For Charlie and his men.

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