Cam Ye O'er Frae France
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
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Lyrics:
Cam ye o'er frae France? Cam ye down by Lunnon?
Saw ye Geordie Whelps and his bonny woman?
Were ye at the place ca'd the Kittle Housie?
Saw ye Geordie's grace riding on a goosie?
Geordie, he's a man there is little doubt o't;
He's done a' he can, wha can do without it?
Down there came a blade linkin' like my lordie;
He wad drive a trade at the loom o' Geordie.
Though the claith were bad, blythly may we niffer;
Gin we get a wab, it makes little differ.
We hae tint our plaid, bonnet, belt and swordie,
Ha's and mailins braid—but we hae a Geordie!
Jocky's gane to France and Montgomery's lady;
There they'll learn to dance: Madam, are ye ready?
They'll be back belyve, belted, brisk and lordly;
Brawly may they thrive to dance a jig wi' Geordie!
Hey for Sandy Don! Hey for Cockolorum!
Hey for Bobbing John and his Highland Quorum!
Mony a sword and lance swings at Highland hurdie;
How they'll skip and dance o'er the bum o' Geordie!
"Cam Ye O'er Frae France" is a satirical Jacobite song about Goerge I.<br> The tune is a version of "The Keys to the Cellar". It is also related<br> to "Jack Lintel's Jigg" and "Boban John". <br> It was recorded by Ewan MacColl on The Jacobite Rebellions,<br> The album notes commented:<br> "When George the First imported his seraglio of impoverished gentlewomen<br> from Germany, he provided the Jacobite songwriters with material for some<br> of their most ribald verses. Madame Kielmansegg, Countess of Platen, is<br> referred to exclusively as “The Sow” in the songs, while his favourite<br> mistress, the lean and haggard Madame Schulenburg, afterwards crested<br> Duchess of Kendall, was given the name of “The Goose”. She is the "goosie"<br> referred to in this song. The “blade” mentioned is the Count Königsmark.<br> “Bobbing John” refers to John, Earl of Mar, who, at the time this song<br> was made, was recruiting Highlanders for the Hanoverian cause. “Geordie<br> Whelps” is, of course, George the First."<br> It is #5814 in the Roud Folk Song Index and was printed in Hogg's Jacobite<br> Reliques and Williamson's English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish<br> Fiddle Tunes (1976).<br> It was also recorded by Archie Fisher on The Fate o' Charlie, the Tannahill<br> Weavers, Steeleye Span on Parcel of Rogues, accompanying the record's title<br> track "Rogues in a Nation" and others.<br>
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