The Haughs O' Cromdale

Album: various (1695)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a traditional Scottish song that probably dates from the 1690s. According to London Borough of Ealing archivist and accredited historian Jonathan Oates, it "rewrites a defeat as a victory."

    A Scottish archivist was even more forthright, describing it as "either an example of extreme poetic license or a misguided attempt at propaganda."

    The Battle of Cromdale took place in a low lying meadow (a haugh) from April 30 to May 1, 1690 and saw the Jacobites firmly routed.

    The hero of the song, James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, was actually executed in 1650!

    Nevertheless, "The Haughs O' Cromdale" remains popular with Scottish traditionalists to this day and has been widely recorded, including by The Corries. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.