Braes o' Killiecrankie is the name of four distinct folk songs, all originally from Scotland.

The version that begins with the line "Whare hae ye been sae braw, lad?" (Roud

Roud Folk Song Index

The Roud Folk Song Index is a database of 300,000 references to over 21,600 songs that have been collected from oral tradition in the English language from all over the world...

 8187) is the one discussed here. The versions that begin with the line "Clavers and his highland men" are either the Scots version (Roud 8188) or the USA version (Roud 2572). Finally there is another Scots version, that begins with the line "On a thistle I sat doon" (Roud 3363).

The Battle of Killiecrankie

Battle of Killiecrankie

-References:*Reid, Stuart, The Battle of Kiellliecrankkie -External links:* *...

 was fought in 1689, as part of the Jacobite rebellion

Jacobite rising

The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...

. James Hogg

James Hogg

James Hogg was a Scottish poet and novelist who wrote in both Scots and English.-Early life:James Hogg was born in a small farm near Ettrick, Scotland in 1770 and was baptized there on 9 December, his actual date of birth having never been recorded...

 made a collection of songs relating to the battles and campaigns. It was published as Jacobite Reliques

Jacobite Reliques

Hogg's Jacobite Reliques is a collection of songs related to the Jacobite risings, compiled by James Hogg on commission from the Highland Society of London in 1817. Most of the songs in the collection are Jacobite, and a minority are Whig...

 in 1819. He lists this song simply as "Killiecrankie" (number 19 on page 32). Hogg may have had a hand in writing or adapting the song.
Whare hae ye been sae braw, lad?

Whare hae ye been sae brankie-O?

Whare hae ye been sae braw, lad

Cam ye by Killicrankie-O?

Chorus

An had ye been where I hae been

Ye wad-na been sae cantie-O

An ye had seen what I hae seen

I' the braes o' Killicrankie-O.

I faught at land, I faught at sea

At hame I faught my auntie-O

But I met the devil and Dundee

John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee

John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee , known as the 7th Laird of Claverhouse until raised to the viscounty in 1688, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman, a Tory and an Episcopalian...

On the braes o' Killicrankie-O.


The bauld Pitcur fell in a furr

The Clavers

John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee

John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee , known as the 7th Laird of Claverhouse until raised to the viscounty in 1688, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman, a Tory and an Episcopalian...

 got a clankie-O

Or I had fed an Athol gled

On the braes o' Killicrankie-O.


O fie, Mackay

Hugh Mackay

Hugh Mackay was a Scottish general best known for his service in the Revolution of 1688.- Early military career :...

, what gart ye lie

I' the bush ayont the brankie-O

Ye's better kiss'd King Willie's

William III of England

William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...

 loof

Than come to Killicrankie-O


It's nae shame, it's nae shame

It's nae shame to shank ye-O

There's sour slaes on Athol Braes

And deils at Killicrankie-O.


Scotland's Big Country

Big Country

Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife in 1981. They were most popular in the early to mid-1980s, but they still release material for a cult following...

recorded a version with rousing guitar.