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Kirkpatrick is My Name

by David Michael King

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I have always been strangely fascinated by our Kirkpatrick family motto, “I Mak Siccar (I’ll make sure).” It is attributed to our most famous ancestor, Roger Kirkpatrick, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce. In 1306, Bruce met his rival, Red John Comyn, in a church in Dumfries, Scotland. The two men argued, pulled swords, and Comyn was injured. As Bruce fled the church, he told Roger Kirkpatrick that he did not believe he had killed Comyn. Legend has it that Kirkpatrick replied, “I Mak Siccar (I’ll Make Sure),” and went back into the church to finish off Comyn. I use “I Mak Siccar,” and the story surrounding it, as the starting point for this family history of my great-great-grandparents, Austin and Sarah Kirkpatrick.

lyrics

LYRICS

Gather around and I’ll sing you a song
‘Bout Austin and Sarah, I won’t keep you long
Our story begins in 1306
With a man named Roger, the clan Kirkpatrick
Robert the Bruce, he was in command
He said, “It’s time that the Scots take a stand”
So he asked, “Brave Roger, can you lend a hand?”
And this is what he said

“I mak siccar, I’ll make sure
I’ll say it loud and plain
I mak siccar, I’ll make sure
Kirkpatrick is My Name”

Centuries passed, Kirkpatricks did grow
They hailed from Dumfries in Scotland, you know
Crossing the ocean with sails unfurled
To seek their fortunes in the New World
John Kirkpatrick was an American
He had a wife and his own stretch of land
“We’ll build a new life, the best that we can”
And this is what he said

John had a son, they christened him James
James took a wife, Martha her name
Martha had Samuel, James was his son
Austin Wilson then came along
Austin was a man of strength and of pride
He asked young Sarah, “Will you be my bride?”
“I will if I know that you can provide”
And this is what he said

Austin and Sarah had a large family
Fred and Minnie and Ora made three
Clarence and Harold, Carlton as well
The youngest one was little Nell
The children grew quickly, had kids of their own
They scattered from DC to New Mexico
They planned a reunion to always stay close
And this is what they said

They gathered in Mayview on Austin’s old farm
In 1920 and we’re still going strong
We gather once more, let’s raise a glass
To honor the memory of those from our past
We’ll teach our children to do their best
And let them know how this family’s been blessed
And we’ll tell them this story, so they never forget
This is what we’ll say.

“I mak siccar, I’ll make sure
I’ll say it loud and plain
I mak siccar, I’ll make sure
Kirkpatrick is Our Name”

credits

released April 1, 2011
Words and music by David Michael King (c) 2009

David Michael King guitar and vocals
Additional vocals by the Kirkpatrick Family Singers
(aka Kathy, Kent, Haven, Joshua and Emily King-Nobles)

Recorded September 2009 in Decatur, IL.

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David Michael King Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

David Michael King wrote music and lyrics for two 15-minute musicals: "Take Me," with book by Maureen McGranaghan and "One Night," with book by Zhiwei Ma. He has had musical theater pieces performed in Hot Metal Musicals. His singer-songwriter tunes can be heard on "Love and Other Punchlines" and other recordings. Performances include playing with Pete Seeger and opening for The Subdudes. ... more

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