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The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse

The Highland Emigrant’s Last Farewell

Evan MacColl (1808–1898)

ADIEU, my native land; adieu,

The banks of fair Lochfyne,

Where the first breath of life I drew,

And would my last resign!

Swift sails the bark that wafteth me

This night from thy loved strand;

Oh, must it be my last of thee,

My dear, dear fatherland!

O Scotland! o’er the Atlantic roar

Though fated to depart,

Nor time nor space can e’er efface

Thine image from my heart.

Come weal, come woe, till life’s last throe,

My Highland home shall seem

An Eden bright in Fancy’s light,

A heaven in Memory’s dream!

Land of the maids of matchless grace,

The bards of matchless song,

Land of the bold heroic race

That never brooked a wrong!

Long in the front of nations free

May Scotland proudly stand;

Farewell to thee, farewell to thee,

My dear, dear fatherland!