A SON OF SCOTLAND IS GONE

Verse #1:

The flowers of the forest
Are bonny in the sunlight,
Painting bright colors
On lea, braes, and glen.
Surrounded by heather,
The burn lightly babbles.
All birdies and creatures
Hae something they ken.

Chorus:

A son of Scotland is gone,
And kinsmen will greet, keen, and moan.
Each heart is a flame
To honor the name,
For the clan lives forever and on.
Our clan lives forever and on.

Verse #2:

Our clan will awaken
At the skirl of the war pipes;
Ancient tradition
Observed e'en today.
At this solemn moment
Of flowers of the forest,
Each heart in the clan
Will respectfully pray.

Verse #3:

From hieland, and low land,
And all the misty islands,
The blood of our warriors
And chieftains would roam.
As the dew and wee birdies
Announce each Scottish morning,
It's written each man
And his life hae their gloam.

Verse #4:

Our clan is united
By centuries of legends.
The virtue of heroes
Is told in our lore.
Our badge and our tartan
Which we are proudly wearing
Inspire us to follow
Our forebears of yore.

Words and Music: ©Copyright September 29, 2004 by John Robert Mallernee

Scottish Terminology:

  • Flowers of the Forest: The deceased
  • Bonny: Pretty or Good
  • Lea: Pasture
  • Brae: Hillside
  • Hae: Have
  • Ken: Know
  • Greet: Weep
  • Keen: Wail
  • Clan: Children
  • Skirl: Play (bagpipes)
  • Hieland: Highland
  • Gloam: Sunset

Author’s Note: As an adopted child, I was raised with no knowledge of Clan Henderson or Scottish heritage, and I've never been to Scotland. Therefore, I have never composed a Scottish song.

With the recent passing of our clan chieftain, Dr. John Henderson of Fordell, Toowoomba, Australia, where he had been residing, his eldest son, Alistair, now becomes head of our clan. With the changing of the guard, I felt the need to meet my obligation as a clan bard in keeping with ancient tradition. So, the above is my very first Scottish song.

In this song, I do not specifically refer to Dr. John or Clan Henderson; I deliberately made the lyrics generic, so the song can be used by any clan, for any reason.