Ye Jacobites

"Ye Jacobites by Name" (Roud # 5517) is a traditional Scottish folk song which goes back to the Jacobite Risings in Scotland (1688–1746). While the original version simply attacked the Jacobites from a contemporaneous Whig point of view, Robert Burns rewrote it in around 1791 to give a version with a more general, humanist anti-war outlook. This is the version that most people know today.

The song (no. 371) was published in 1793 in volume 4 of James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum 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. The tune is taken from "My Love's in Germany" by Hector Macneill.

This is the 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, you shall hear
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 weak arm and a strang,
A short sword, and a lang, for to draw, for to draw
A short sword, and a lang, 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 haunt 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.
So let your schemes alone,
Adore the rising sun,
And leave a man undone, to his fate, to his fate.
And leave a man undone, to his fate.

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.

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