Ye Jacobites by Name
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Ye Jacobites by Name (Roud # 5517) is a rousing, traditional, Scottish folk song which goes back to the Jacobite Risings in Scotland (1688–1746). According to Bill Watkins, author of Scotland is Not for the Squeamish, the orginal version was anti-Jacobite but, in around 1791, Robert Burns rewrote it to give the version most people know today.[1]
The song is anti-war and critical of corrupt politicians - some have observed that the line, 'Adore the rising sun' reflects anarchist sentiments. Indeed, Gerard Winstanley's Diggers' Song of 1649, shares the same metre, sentiment and, in some versions, the same tune, suggesting a degree of cross-fertilisation.
The song was published in James Johnson’s Scots Musical Museum of 1792 (no. 371) and in James Hogg's Jacobite Reliques of 1817 (no. 34). It also appears in a collection of Scottish Songs entitled Personal Choice by Ewan MacColl.[2]. The tune[3] is taken from My Love's in Germany by Hector Macneill.
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[edit] Recordings
A large number of musicians have recorded Ye Jacobites including these:
- The Johnstons sang this song on The Barley Corn (1969)
- The Corries played it on their live album Strings and Things (1970)
- Seven Nations included it on their album Old Ground (1995)
- Eddi Reader sang "Ye Jacobites" on The Songs Of Robert Burns (2003)
- Paddy Goes to Holyhead included a live version on Acoustic Nights (2004)
- Clann Lir performed "Ye Jacobites" on Clann Lir (2005)
- Dublin City Workingman's Band played the song on The Frost is All Over (2006)
- Billy Bragg rewrote the lyrics to refer to "Thatcherites" on the EP Bloke on Bloke (1996)
- Tri Yann gave a rendering of the Burns song in their 1972 debut album, in spite of generally favoring Breton material.
[edit] Robert Burns's version
This is version in Johnson's, Hogg's and MacColl's collections:
Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear, give an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name,
Your fautes I will proclaim,
Your doctrines I maun blame, you shall hear.
What is Right, and What is Wrang, by the law, by the law?
What is Right and what is Wrang by the law?
What is Right, and what is Wrang?
A short sword, and a lang,
A weak arm and a strang, for to draw.
What makes heroic strife, famed afar, famed afar?
What makes heroic strife famed afar?
What makes heroic strife?
To whet th' assassin's knife,
Or hunt a Parent's life, wi' bluidy war?
Then let your schemes alone, in the state, in the state,
Then let your schemes alone in the state.
Then let your schemes alone,
Adore the rising sun,
And leave a man undone, to his fate.
[edit] Original lyrics
You Jacobites by Name, now give Ear, now give Ear,
You Jacobites by Name, now give Ear;
You Jacobites by Name,
Your Praise I will proclaim,
Some says you are to blame for this Wear.
With the Pope you covenant, as they say, as they say,
With the Pope you covenant, as they say,
With the Pope you covenant,
And Letters there you sent,
Which made your Prince present to array.
Your Prince and Duke o'Perth, where they go, where they go,
Your Prince and Duke o'Perth, where they go,
Your Prince and Duke o'Perth,
They're Cumb'rers o' the Earth,
Causing great Hunger and Dearth where they go.
He is the King of Reef, I'll declare, I'll declare,
He is the King of Reef, I'll declare,
He is the King of Reef,
Of a Robber and o' Thief,
To rest void of Relief when he's near.
They marched thro' our Land cruelly, cruelly,
They marched thro' our Land cruelly,
They marched thro' our Land
With a bloody thievish Band
To Edinburgh then they wan Treachery.
To Preston then they came, in a Rout, in a Rout,
To Preston then they came, in a Rout;
To Preston then they came,
Brave Gard'ner murd'red then.
A Traitor did command, as we doubt.
To England then they went, as bold, as bold,
To England then they went, as bold;
To England then they went,
And Carlisle they ta'en't,
The Crown they fain would ha'en't, but behold.
To London as they went, on the Way, on the Way,
To London as they went, on the way,
To London as they went,
In a Trap did there present,
No battle they will stent, for to die.
They turned from that Place, and they ran, and they ran,
They turned from that Place, and they ran;
They turned from that Place
As the Fox, when Hounds do chace.
They tremble at the Name, Cumberlan'.
To Scotland then they came, when they fly, when they fly,
To Scotland then they came, when they fly,
To Scotland then they came,
And they robb'd on every Hand,
By Jacobites Command, where they ly.
When Duke William does command, you must go, you must go;
When Duke William does command, you must go;
When Duke William does command,
Then you must leave the Land,
Your Conscience in your Hand like a Crow.
Tho' Carlisle ye took by the Way, by the Way;
Tho' Carlisle ye took by the Way;
Tho' Carlisle ye took,
Short Space ye did it Brook,
These Rebels got a Rope on a Day.
The Pope and Prelacy, where they came, where they came,
The Pope and Prelacy, where they came;
The Pope and Prelacy,
They rul'd with Cruelty,
They ought to hing on high for the same.
