A sad late Jacobite song of exile.

The song was written by Allan Cunningham, an author and poet in the manner of Robert Burns, who was born at Keir, near Dalswinton, Dumfriesshire. Cunningham’s father had been a neighbour of Robert Burns at Ellisland, and Allan became a friend of James Hogg.

Cunningham was asked by Robert Cromek to help gather old songs for Cromek’s book called 'Robert Hartley Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song'. Cunningham successfully presented several of his own imitations of ballads and Jacobite songs as old originals. One of these was ‘My Ain Countrie’.

The tune is said to be ‘A Gaelic air’.

The sun rises bright in France, and fair sets he,
But he has lost the look he had, in my ain countrie
Though gladness comes to many, a sorrow comes to me
As I look o’er the ocean wide tae my ain countrie

It’s no my ain ruin that saddens aye my ee
But the love I left in Gallowa wi bonnie bairnies three
My hamely hearth burns bonnie an smiles my sweet Marie
I left my heart behind me, in my ain countrie

The bird wins back tae summertime, and the blossom tae the tree
But I’ll win back, no never, tae my ain countrie
I’m leal tae high heaven, that will prove leal tae me
An I will meet ye aa aricht soon, frae my ain countrie

Listen to 'My Ain Countrie', sung by Tryst.
From Companions (2006), Tryst02CD, Tryst Folk Music.