William Topaz McGonagall

Ye Sons of Mars, it gives me great
To think there has been erected a handsome
In memory of the Black Watch, which is magnificent to see,
Where they first were embodied at Aberfeldy

'Twas in the year of 1896, and on the 30th of September,
Which many people in Aberdeen will long remember;
The burning of the People's Variety Theatre, in Bridge
Because the fire spread like lightning at a rapid pace

Beautiful city of Glasgow, with your streets so neat and clean,
Your stateley mansions, and beautiful Green
Likewise your beautiful bridges across the River Clyde,
And on your bonnie banks I would like to reside

Ye sons of Great Britain,
I think no
To write in praise of brave General Graham
Whose name will be handed down to posterity without any stigma,

Good people of high and low degree,
I pray ye all to list to me,
And I'll relate a harrowing tale of the
Concerning the burning of the ship "Kent" in the Bay of Biscay,

'Twas in the year of 1878, and
the winter had set in,
Lord Roberts and the British Army their march did begin,
On their way to Afghanistan to a place called Cabul;

O' a' the toons that I've been in,
I dearly love Dundee,
It's there the bonnie lassie lives,
The lass I love to see

Ye lovers of the picturesque, away and
Beautiful Balmoral, near by the River Dee;
There ye will see the deer browsing on the heathery hills,
While adown their sides run clear sparkling rills

As the night was beginning to close in one rough September
In the year of 1838, a steamer passed through the
Between the Farne Islands and the coast, on her passage northwards;
But the wind was against her, and the steamer laboured ...

Welcome, sweet Christmas, blest be the
That Christ our Saviour was born
Earth's Redeemer, to save us from all danger,
And, as the Holy Record tells, born in a manger

As I stood upon London Bridge and viewed the mighty
Of thousands of people in cabs and 'busses rapidly whirling along,
All furiously driving to and fro,
Up one street and down another as quick as they could go:

Immortal Robert Burns of Ayr,
There's but few poets can with you compare;
Some of your poems and songs are very fine:
To "Mary in Heaven" is most sublime;