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, - commonly referred to as the Sow - and his half-sister Sophia von Kielmansegg, known as the Goosie for her appearance. 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, 22nd Earl of Mar, Bobbing John, who recruited in the Scottish Highlands for the Hanoverian cause. The nickname Geordie Whelps is a reference to the House of Welf, the original line of the House of Hanover.
lots more in wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cam_Ye_O'er_Frae_France
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Cam Ye O'er Frae France
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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;
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!
The song "Cam Ye O'er Frae France" is a Scottish folk song that tells the tale of a group of people who have returned from France to Scotland. The singer is asking if they have seen Geordie Whelps and his wife, who are well known in the area. The song is filled with Scottish dialect and may prove difficult for non-Scots to understand.
Geordie Whelps is painted as a man of great importance and importance as he is mentioned repeatedly throughout the song. The song talks about Geordie's loom, which is where he weaves cloth. Even though the cloth may not be of the highest quality, the people are happy to trade with him as they know he is an honest man. The song also mentions the loss of various belongings such as a plaid, belt, sword, and hat, but despite this, they still have Geordie. The last few lines of the song talk about the Highlanders who are coming to dance with Geordie and introduce new music and culture to the area.
Overall, the song is a celebration of Scottish culture and the bonds between the people. It highlights the importance of community and the role each individual plays in supporting one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Cam ye o'er frae France? Cam ye down by Lunnon?
Did you come from France? Did you travel through London?
Saw ye Geordie Whelps and his bonny woman?
Did you see Geordie Whelps and his lovely wife?
Were ye at the place ca'd the Kittle Housie?
Did you visit the spot known as the Kittle House?
Saw ye Geordie's grace riding on a goosie?
Did you happen to see Geordie's highness riding on a goose?
Geordie he's a man there is little doubt o't;
There's no denying that Geordie is a man;
He's done a' he can, wha can do without it?
He's done everything he can, who can do without it?
Down there came a blade linkin' like my lordie;
Then along came a fellow strutting like a lord;
He wad drive a trade at the loom o' Geordie.
He sought to ply his trade at Geordie's loom.
Though the claith were bad, blythly may we niffer;
Even if the cloth was poor, we can still haggle happily;
Gin we get a wab, it makes little differ.
If we acquire a web of cloth, it doesn't matter much.
We hae tint our plaid, bannet, belt and swordie,
We have lost our plaid, bonnet, belt, and sword,
Ha's and mailins braid -- but we hae a Geordie!
As well as our homes and extensive lands -- but we still have Geordie!
Jocky's gane to France and Montgomery's lady;
Jocky has gone to France and so has the Lady Montgomery;
There they'll learn to dance: Madam, are ye ready?
There they will learn to dance: Madame, are you prepared?
They'll be back belyve belted, brisk and lordly;
They will return quickly, decked out regally and full of energy;
Brawly may they thrive to dance a jig wi' Geordie!
May they do well in all their endeavors, especially in dancing with Geordie!
Hey for Sandy Don! Hey for Cockolorum!
Hurrah for Sandy Don! Hurrah for Cockolorum!
Hey for Bobbing John and his Highland Quorum!
Hurrah for Bobbing John and his group of Highlanders!
Mony a sword and lance swings at Highland hurdie;
Many swords and lances swing at the Highland rumpus;
How they'll skip and dance o'er the bum o' Geordie!
How they will skip and dance over Geordie's buttocks!
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MADDY PRIOR, PETER KNIGHT, RICK KEMP, ROBERT JOHNSON, TIM HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
on Bonny Moorhen
Hi Stuart, We have corrected the description above.
Stuart Tartan
on Bonny Moorhen
This description of the song completely misses the point in every way. It IS NOT about a bird.
It is an allegorical Jacobite-era song about Bonny Prince Charlie (the bonny moorhen). The colours mentioned, for instance, are the colours of the Clan Stuart tartan.