Dumbarton's Drums is a traditional Scottish song. The text was first printed in 1724 albeit with a different tune. The current tune was popularised by The Beers Family of Fox Hollow, New York in the 1960s. The song exists in several variants. In most versions the song is sung from the feminine perspective. Masculine lyrics also exist and have been recorded by

The Corries The Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. The group was a trio from their formation until 1966 when founder Bill Smith left the band but Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne continued ...

with the last verse omitted. The original version as collected and recorded by Burns is to a different tune, a brisk march which was recorded by the

Glasgow Orpheus Choir The Glasgow Orpheus Choir was founded in Glasgow, Scotland in 1906 by Hugh S. Roberton. It originated in the Toynbee Musical Association, which had been created in 1901. The Glasgow Orpheus Choir came to be considered without peer in Britain, an ...

. It also has different words which were the basis for the popular song. "Dumbarton's Drums" is the march of the

Royal Scots Regiment The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest and most senior infantry regiment of the line of the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of Scotland. The regimen ...

, with the same name as the folk song but with a different tune.

References

{{authority control Scottish folk songs Year of song unknown

See also

References