[199] Lord Ullin's Daughter
A Chieftain, to the Highlands bound,
Cries, "Boatman, do not tarry!
And I'll give thee a silver pound
To row us o'er the ferry!" --
"Now, who be ye, would cross Lochgyle,
This dark and stormy weather?"
"O, I'm the chief of Ulva's isle,
And this, Lord Ullin's daughter. --
"And fast before her father's men
Three days we've fled together,
For should he find us in the glen,
My blood would stain the heather.
"His horsemen hard behind us ride;
Should they our steps discover,
Then who will cheer my bonny bride
When they have slain her lover?" --
Out spoke the hardy Highland wight, --
"I'll go, my chief --I'm ready: --
It is not for your silver bright;
But for your winsome lady:
"And by my word! the bonny bird
In danger shall not tarry;
So, though the waves are raging white,
I'll row you o'er the ferry." --
By this the storm grew loud apace,
The water-wraith was shrieking;
And in the scowl of heaven each face
Grew dark as they were speaking.
But still as wilder blew the wind,
And as the night grew drearer,
Adown the glen rode armèd men,
Their trampling sounded nearer. --
"O haste thee, haste!" the lady cries,
"Though tempests round us gather;
I'll meet the raging of the skies,
But not an angry father." --
The boat has left a stormy land,
A stormy sea before her, --
When, O! too strong for human hand,
The tempest gather'd o'er her.
And still they row'd amidst the roar
Of waters fast prevailing:
Lord Ullin reach'd that fatal shore, --
His wrath was changed to wailing.
For, sore dismay'd through storm and shade,
His child he did discover: --
One lovely hand she stretch'd for aid,
And one was round her lover.
"Come back! come back!" he cried in grief
"Across this stormy water:
And I'll forgive your Highland chief,
My daughter! -- O my daughter!"
'Twas vain: the loud waves lash'd the shore,
Return or aid preventing:
The waters wild went o'er his child,
And he was left lamenting.
-- Thomas Campbell
|
A fairly standard ballad - unremarkable but enjoyable. As far as I know, it
has no basis in fact (the only references to Lord Ullin I could find
referred to the poem), though if anyone knows any better, do write in.
A quick note on the structure - the metre is the standard ballad heptameter,
unvarying throughout (which contributes to the old-fashioned feel); the
rhyme scheme likewise remains constant, except for one verse where it is
changed to link it to the previous one (a sort of carry over effect).
Campbell, Thomas
b. July 27, 1777, Glasgow, Scot.
d. June 15, 1844, Boulogne, France
Scottish poet, remembered chiefly for his sentimental and martial
lyrics; he was also one of the initiators of a plan to found what
became the University of London.
Campbell went to Mull, an island of the Inner Hebrides, as a tutor in
1795 and two years later settled in Edinburgh to study law. In 1799 he
wrote The Pleasures of Hope, a traditional 18th-century survey in
heroic couplets of human affairs. It went through four editions within
a year.
He also produced several stirring patriotic war songs--"Ye Mariners of
England," "The Soldier's Dream," "Hohenlinden," and, in 1801, "The
Battle of the Baltic." With others he launched a movement in 1825 to
found the University of London, for students excluded from Oxford or
Cambridge by religious tests or lack of funds.
-- EB
From: MRROTHROCK@ (EDWARD)
You cannot begin to imagine the shock and I
wonderment I experienced when I found this
great poem just now. I memorized it when
just a young boy, thanks to my mother who
was extremely well-read. She knew the value
of words, and insisted that I learn every word
possible. I loved the poem when she would
quote it to me, and wanted to memorize it
myself, which I did.
Over the years, I have quoted it many times.
The people always enjoyed hearing it. There
is a profound lesson in it about what unbridled
anger can lead to.
My beautiful mother passed away two and one
half years ago---but the words live on.
Gratefully
Edward Eugene Baskett
From: "Vasudevan Srinivasan" <vamans@>
Hello ! This is an unusual way to add a comment to a poem. This was one of
my father's favorite poems, which he used to read to us out of a book
called "Story Poems". It still brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my
throat when I read it. I lived in Scotland for a few years and can imagine
the scene as it may have been. I now have two grown up daughters and I
wonder how they feel about me ! Thank you for a beautiful presentation !
Contact me if there are any questions.
Vasudevan (Vasu) Srinivasan
Project Manager ~ IBM Global Services
Mobile: 248-980-4074
Office: 248-552-5994
Home: 248-364-4509
From: "Charles Anderson" <Charles_Anderson@>
According to an article in "The Foster Hall Bulletin (number 11, February
1935) this poem is the one chosen by the 15-year old Stephen Collins
Foster for a school recitation. Foster participated in the "exhibition" of
Athens Academy students in the Presbyterian church in Tioga, Pennsylvania
on April 2, 1841, giving a dramatic recitation of this ballad, and a
performance of a waltz he composed for four flutes, "The Tioga Waltz". The
article was written by Jessie Welles Murray, whose relative, Frances
Welles Stuart, attended the Athens Academy with Stephen Foster.
Charles Anderson
Fox Chapel High School
From: DPunjwaria@
this poem always stayed in my mind since school way back in india, and tears
flow as i go through it, its portrays love and how mighty it is and how weak
anger is, a great poem
devinder punjwaria
4164447569
toronto
From: "Paul Williams" <paul.williams@>
Ulva is a small island off the island of Mull and the "Lochgyle" in the
poem is Loch na Keal. On the nearby island of Tiree there is a mound
said to be the burial mound of Lord Ullin's daughter, although a site on
Mull, close to Ulva ferry also claims the honour.
The ferry crossing to Ulva takes less than a minute, in very sheltered
water, and even in very bad weather would be unlikely to have waves
"raging white". The crossing referred to in the poem would probably have
been from the south side of Loch na Keal.
I don't know who Lord Ullin was, or whether the story has any basis in
fact. Campbell probably picked up the story while he was on Mull.
Paul Williams
Paul Williams
Duror
Appin
Argyll PA38 4DA
01631 740317
07977 591947
From: "audrey CASSIDY" <audrey@>
Hello ! This is an unusual way to add a comment to a poem. This was one
of
my father's favorite poems, which he used to read to us out of a book
called "Story Poems". It still brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my
throat when I read it. I lived in Scotland for a few years and can
imagine
the scene as it may have been. I now have two grown up daughters and I
wonder how they feel about me ! Thank you for a beautiful presentation !
Contact me if there are any questions.
Vasudevan (Vasu) Srinivasan
Project Manager ~ IBM Global Services
Mobile: 248-980-4074
Office: 248-552-5994
Home: 248-364-4509
From: "audrey CASSIDY" <audrey@>
From: "Charles Anderson" <Charles_Anderson@>
According to an article in "The Foster Hall Bulletin (number 11,
February
1935) this poem is the one chosen by the 15-year old Stephen Collins
Foster for a school recitation. Foster participated in the "exhibition"
of
Athens Academy students in the Presbyterian church in Tioga,
Pennsylvania
on April 2, 1841, giving a dramatic recitation of this ballad, and a
performance of a waltz he composed for four flutes, "The Tioga Waltz".
The
article was written by Jessie Welles Murray, whose relative, Frances
Welles Stuart, attended the Athens Academy with Stephen Foster.
Charles Anderson
Fox Chapel High School
From: "Raju, Tonse (NIH/NICHD)" <rajut@>
Hi,
I wanted to print out Campbell's famous poem, Lord Ullin's Daughter for a
Kannada Poetry Recital next week in DC, and came across the website. As it
is for so many others, this poem remains one of my favorites too. But, it
is not the original that I first fell in love with, but its Kannada
translation (into a South Indian language).
The poem was translated by one Prof. B. M. Shrreekanthaiah, the first
professor of English AND Kannada in the newly established University of
Mysore in 1920s. The poem appeared in Kannada in 1926 in a collection of
his. The poem's title was "Kaari Heggadeya Magalu" (The daughter of Heggade
of Kaari). The collection of was translations of English Poems" English
Geethegalu"--the first of such an undertakings by a Kannada poet.
I had read Kaari Heggedeya Magalu, in school without appreciating that it
was a translation as did most of my friends. It is one of the best possible
translations I have ever read from any language to any language. It is
highly lyrical with a galloping rhythm: I was able to recite the entire poem
by-heart (Can do it even now, after 40 years).
Although we were taught that it was a translation, I never believed that it
was not the original; but when I read the Campbell's original I was moved
just as much as I did with the translation.
I know that no one who does not know Kannada (or who has not read the
translation) will agree with me (particularly is you loved the English
original): But, it is not my Kannada pride that makes me say this. The
Kannada version is just as good as does the English original.
Thank you for posting it.
Tonse Raju, M.D., D.C.H.
Medical Officer
Pregnancy & Perinatology Branch
Center for Developmental Biology and Perinatal Medicine, NICHD/NIH
From: "Dick" <dick@>
I learned this poem in 1948. The second verse reads as follows.
"Now, who be ye to cross Lochgyle,
This dark and stormy water?"
"I am the chief of Ulva's isle,
And this,Lord Ullins daughter.
I visited Ulva about 2 years ago and saw the old Chief and his wife. He
died shortly afterwards
There is an old Thomas Telford Church on the Island a tranquil magical
place.
Dick Scott 01463 772023
From: "Manisha" <sweet2001@>
Hi! This is one of the most memorable poem, I have ever come across.I
had remembered it since I was in school & has an everlasting impression
on me.I can feel the emotions & the pain.Hats Up to Charles! for such a
wonderful gift.
Cheers!
Shama Singh
From: ganeshnp <ganeshnp@>
Last day I was telling my 11 year daughter about some of the memorable
poems during my college days,especailly about Lord ullins daughter.Since
I forgot few lines I thought of seraching in the net, and was happy to
recall
those lines , back to my class room 30 years ago.
It is really a message for any daughter and father in the universe !!
Thanks for rekindling my thoughts of a great ballad .
Ganesh
Mumbai-India
From: GMirskiy@ Fri Jul 30 12:56:57 2004
I learned this wonderful poem by heart when studying English in my early
childhood and it is still with me although almost half a century
elapsed.
Gregory
From: "Deanna Griswold" <d.griswold816@>
I didn't see any one mention hearing this poem as a song. so I am not
sure if there was ever any music written for it.
when I was a yooung child (age 63 today) my mother used to sing Lord
Ullin's daughter to me. she had such a pretty voice and the tune was
beautiful. I have sang it over the years to my own children.
I thank you for sharing it with me once again.
From: "John Parr" <jcparr@>
Second verse, second line, last word should be 'water'.
From: chuck <chuck22@>
I as others was delighted to find this poem again, after 73 years. When
I was in fifth grade our teacher Miss White had us act out this poem.
The vereses always stayed in my mind, I was curious to review the
complete poem. I was happy that I could see the poem again. God Bless
Mr. Campbell and Miss White. for sharing this lasting memory to us.
From: "Dr. P.C. Sarkar" <pcsarkar@>
A wonderful poem.. was introduced to it by my mother, way back in the
70s. The poem was in the book of collected poems for ICSE students ('O'
level of India).. although the poem was not in the syllabus!!. The poem
was a great fav of mine, even in my school days and through all these
years.. strikes a responsive chord.. altho how a poem based in Scotland
can fire the imagination of a schoolboy in India is beyond me..