Cam' Ye O'er Frae France Lyrics

Steeleye Span - Cam' Ye O'er Frae France Lyrics

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Cam' Ye O'er Frae France Lyrics

(Hogg's "Jacobite reliques")

Cam ye o'er frae France?

Cam ye doon by Lunnon?

Saw ye Geordie Whelps

and his bonnie woman?

Oh, weren't ye at the place

called the Kittle Housie?

Saw ye Geordie's grace

a-ridin' on a goosie?

Geordie, he's a man,

there is little doot o't,

And he's done a' he can,

all can dae wi'oot it,

Doon there cam' a blade,

linkin' like ma lordie,

He wad drive a trade

at the loom o' Geordie.

Though the claith were bad,

blythly may we niffer

Gin we git oor wab,

it makes little differ,

we hae tint oor plaid,

bonnet, belt and swordie

Ha's and mailin's braid,

but we hae oor Geordie.

Jocky's gone to France,

and Montgomery's lady

there will 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 Cockalorum,

Hey for Bobbin' John,

and his Hielan' quorum!

Mony a sword and lance

swings at Hielan hurdie;

How they'll skip and dance

o'er the bum o' Geordie!

Note: When George I imported his seraglio of impoverished gentlewomen

from Germany, he provided the Jacobite songwriters with material for

some of their most ribald verses. Madame Kilmansegge, Countess of Platen,

is referred to exclusively as "The Sow" in the songs, while the King's

favorite mistress, the lean and haggard Madame Schulemburg (afterwards

named Duchess of Kendall) was given the name of "The Goose". She is the

"goosie" referred to in this song. The "blade" is the Count Koningsmark.

"Bobbing John refers to John, Earl of Mar, who was at the time recruiting

Highlanders for the Hanoverian cause. "Geordie Whelps" is, of course,

George I himself. MJ

Lunnon=London

Kittle Housie=Brothel

Linkin=Tripping along

Claith=Cloth

Niffer=Haggle

Gin=If

Wab=Web (or length) of cloth

Tint=Lost

Ha's and Mailins=Houses and Farmlands

Gane=Gone

Belyve=Quickly

Brawly=Well

Hurdie=Buttock