Flowers of the Forest
Flowers of the Forest or The Flowers o the Forest is an ancient Scottish folk tune commemorating the defeat of the Scottish army of James IV at the Battle of Flodden in September 1513. Although the original words are unknown, the melody was recorded circa 1615-25 in the John Skene of Halyards Manuscript as "Flowres of the Forrest," although it might have been composed earlier. Several versions of words have been added to the tune, notably Jean Elliot's lyrics in 1756 or 1758. Others include those by Alison Cockburn. However, many renditions are played on the Great Highland Bagpipe. Due to the content of the lyrics and the reverence for the tune, it is one of the few tunes that many pipers will perform in public only at funerals or memorial services, with play otherwise limited to private practice or to instruct other pipers.
Flowers of the Forest has come to represent the very quintessence of lamentation at the time of someone's passing.
Click here to hear Pipe Major Forsyth perform.
The Flowers o the Forest
Jean Elliot's lyrics from 1756-58:
I've heard them lilting at our ewe - milking,
Lasses a-lilting before the dawn of day;
But now they are moaning on ilka green loaning -
The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.
At bughts, in the morning, nae blythe lads are scorning,
The lasses are lonely, and dowie, and wae;
Nae daffin', nae gabbin', but sighing and sabbing,
Ilk ane lifts her leglin and hies her away.
In har'st, at the shearing, nae youths now are jeering,
Bandsters are lyart, and runkled, and gray;
At fair or at preaching, nae wooing, nae fleeching -
The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.
At e'en, in the gloaming, nae younkers are roaming
'Bout stacks wi' the lasses at bogle to play;
But ilk ane sits drearie, lamenting her dearie -
The Flowers of the Forest are weded away.
Dool and awe for the order sent our lads to the Border!
The English, for ance, by guile wan the day;
The Flowers of the Forest, that fought aye the foremost,
The prime of our land, are cauld in the clay.
We'll hear nae mair lilting at our ewe - milking;
Women and bairns are heartless and wae;
Sighing and moaning on ilka green loaning -
The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.
Nancy Ann Cqampbell
(1949-2024)
Nancy Ann Campbell (Howard), 74, passed away on June 29, 2024, in Brunswick, Maine. Born in Hartford, Connecticut on October 13, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Edward Paul and Marilyn Jeanne (Kilby) Howard.
Nancy graduated from Edwin O. Smith High School in Storrs Mansfield, Connecticut in 1967 and embarked on a respected career, beginning with 12 years as a secretary for the State of Connecticut. After marrying her husband, Kevin Campbell of Bingham, Maine on March 15, 1980, she briefly worked at Vitro Corp. in Maryland before moving to Bath, Maine, where she dedicated 31 years as an Administrative Assistant at Bath Iron Works, retiring in 2014. They moved to Dresden in 1988 and have lived there for the last 36 years.
Nancy was a loving and generous individual, known for her passion for gardening and aspirations in quilting. She found joy in traveling with her husband, cherishing moments with her children, and adoring her grandchildren. Her gardens were a testament to her care and dedication, often serving as a sanctuary of beauty and tranquility. She and Kevin have belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Bath Lodge #934 in Bath, Maine for 22 years where she has been an officer for several years.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Kevin Campbell of Dresden; daughters, Julia Campbell of Portland, Maine, Laura and her wife Jennifer (Hatch) Campbell of Sabattus, Maine; granddaughters, Evelyn Grace and Rylee Ann Campbell of Sabattus; brothers, Michael and his wife Joanne (Errico) Howard of Oakdale, Connecticut, and Paul and his wife Donna (LaPointe) Howard of Mansfield Center, Connecticut.
A Celebration of Life and Elks Memorial Service will be held at the Bath Lodge of Elks #934 in Bath, Maine, at 2 pm on August 3. A private graveside service is scheduled for 2 pm on August 4 at Union Cemetery in Bingham, Maine, where Nancy will be laid to rest. Giberson Funeral Home of Bingham, Maine, is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Elks National Foundation (ENF) at http://enf.elks.org/tribute . Nancy's spirit of generosity and community involvement continues to inspire through her support of charitable causes.
Epitaph On A Friend
An honest man here lies at rest,
The friend of man, the friend of truth,
The friend of age, the guide of youth;
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd;
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.
~Robert Burns~
Clan Campbell Society (North America)