Cam Ye o'er frae France

Cam Ye o'er frae France? is a Scots folk song from the time of the Jacobite rebellions of the 18th century. It satirises the marital problems of the Hanoverian George I.

Background
After the death of Queen Anne the British crown passed on to George, the Elector of Hanover. In his entourage George I brought with him a number of German courtiers, including his mistress Melusine von der Schulenburg, whom he later created the Duchess of Kendal (known as the Goose) and his half-sister Sophia von Kielmansegg (commonly referred to as the Sow). George I's wife Sophia Dorothea of Celle remained in Hanover, imprisoned at Ahlden House after her affair with Philip Christoph von Königsmarck – the blade in the song. Another historic personality in the song is John Erskine, Earl of Mar (Bobbing John) who recruited in the Scottish Highlands for the Jacobite cause. The nickname Geordie Whelps is a reference to the House of Welf, the original line of the House of Hanover.

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 called 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, bannet, 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! (Repeat first verse)

Glossary
a, a' = adj all

bannet = n bonnet

belive (belyve) = quickly, soon, immediately

blade = a person of weak, soft constitution from rapid overgrowth; Count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck of Sweden

blithe = adj festive; glad; happy; joyful. n gladly, happily.

Bobbing John = John Erskine, Earl of Mar. So called because he switched sides 6 times before his death.

braid = broad

braw = adj fine; handsome; splendid; admirable; well-dressed; worthy

brawly = well

ca = v call

claith = cloth

cloth = George Augustus

cockalorum = a young cock, or little man with a high opinion of himself. Alexander Gordon, Marquis of Huntly

differ = n difference; dissent. v dissent.

Don = diminutive of Gordon (the last syllable).

drive a trade = metaphor for fornication - Count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck of Sweden's alleged affair with Princess Sophia Dorothea of Celle

gane = gone

gin = by the time, if, whether

goosie = Jacobite nickname for Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal, mistress of King George I

ha = n hall; house; mansion.

ha's and mailins = houses and farmlands

hae = v have; take; credit (believe/think)

Highland hurdie = a Highland soldier

Highland quorum = either the hunting party on 27 August 1715 or the planning meeting on 3 September 1715

hurdie = buttock

Jocky = a Scotsman. James III

link = n skip; v walk smartly; to make love

linkin = tripping along

loom = a loom; a metaphor for female sexual organs

loom of Geordie = George I's former wife, Princess Sophia Dorothea of Celle

lordie = George I

mailing = a leased smallholding, a farm

mailings braid = broad farmlands

Montgomery = Sidney, Earl of Godolphin

Montgomery's lady = Queen Mary Beatrice of Modena, wife of James II and mother of James III

mony = adj many

niffer = haggle or exchange; to exchange, to barter with objects hidden in the fists

o'er = over; excessively; too

plaid = James III

Sandy = diminutive of Alexander.

Sandy Don = Major-General Alexander Gordon of Auchintoul

thrive = success

tint = lost; lost (past participle of tine = to lose)

to dance = to raise funds, to raise troops and prepare to fight. Compare the song To Auchindown, which has the lines: "We joined the dance, and kissed the lance, / And swore us foes to strangers."

to dance a jig with Geordie = To fight with George I.

wab = web (or length) of cloth); a length of woven cloth from one loom

wad = n pledge, security; wager, bet; forfeit. adj wedded. v pledge; wager, bet; wed.

wha = pron who

Modern recordings

 * Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, Songs of Two Rebellions: The Jacobite Wars of 1715 and 1745 in Scotland. Smithsonian Folkways, 1960.
 * The Corries, Bonnet Belt and Sword, 1967
 * Steeleye Span, Parcel of Rogues, 1973
 * Alastair McDonald, Bonnie Prince Charlie, 2003