We fought the Prussian Guairds:
It took us a’ oor wecht.
I wish them sic anither day,
The folk that sit at hame and say,
The Germans canna fecht.

It took us a’ we kent:
We bate them in the en’;
And comin’ hame we saw them lie,
Wi’ blind eye starin’ at the sky,
An’ a’ bonnie men!

Fu’ fain wad mony a lass
A man like you hae won:
An’ mony a mother’s hert’s been proud
When to his gallant height he stood,
Her muckle soldier son.

They were as braw’s as oorsells;
But a’e side maun be bate;
And something seemed my heart to draw,
And pity wad na bide away
To see them lie say quate.

wecht – weight; muckle – large, big; braw – fine; bate – beaten; quate – quiet
From Scottish Verse 1851 – 1951. Douglas Young, Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd, 1952