The Burning of Auchindoun (Child Ballad #183) tells of the vendetta between the notorious Gordons of Huntly and the MacIntoshs of Clan Chattan.

The unusually short ballad lament the burning of Auchindoun Castle in historic Banffshire by Clan Macintosh in 1592 in revenge for the Gordons of Huntly’s murder of the bonnie Earl of Murray. It features in the Child Ballad collection as ‘Willie MacIntosh’. Interpreted by folksingers including Dick Gaughan, Maddy Prior, June Tabor and Ewan MacColl. 

As I cam in by Fiddichside, on a May morning

I spied Willie Macintosh, an hoor afore the dawning

Turn again, turn again, turn again I bid ye

If ye burn Auchindoun, Huntly he will heid ye

Heid me, or hang me, that shall niver fear me,

I’ll burn Auchindoun, afore the licht it leaves me

As I cam in by Fiddichside, on a May morning

Auchindoon wis in a bleeze, an hoor afore the dawnin

Crawin, crawin, fur aa ye crouse crawin

Ye burnt yer crop an tint yer wings, An hoor afore the dawning

Heid me, or hang me, that shall niver fear me,

I’ll burn Auchindoun, afore the licht leaves me