|
|
 |
|
|
|
(Trad) |
|
Cam ye o'er frae France? Cam ye doon by Lunnon?
Saw ye Geordie Whelps and his bonnie woman?
Were ye at the place ca'd the Kittle Hoosie?
Saw ye Geordie's grace riding on a goosie?
Geordie he's the man, there is little doubt o't;
He's done a' he can, wha can dae withoot it?
Doon there cam a blade linkin' like my lordie;
He wad drive a trade at the loom o' Geordie.
Though the claith were bad, blithely may we niffer;
Gin we get a wab, it mak's little differ.
We hae lost our plaid, bonnet, belt and swordie,
Ha's and mailins braid - but we hae a Geordie!
Jocky's gone tae France, and Montgomery's lady;
There they'll learn tae dance: - Madam, are ye ready?
They'll be back belive, belted, brisk and lordly;
Brawly may they thrive tae dance a jig wi' Geordie!
Hey for Sandy Don! Hey for Cock-a-Lorum!
Hey for Bobbin' John, and his Hieland Quorum!
Many's the sword and lance, swings at highland hurdie;
How they'll skip and dance, o'er the bum o' Geordie! |
|
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. "Bobbin' 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.
Lunnon=London;
Kittle Hoosie=Brothel;
Linkin=Tripping along;
Claith=Cloth;
Niffer=Haggle;
Gin=If;
Wab=Web (or length) of cloth;
Ha's and Mailins=Houses and Farmlands;
Gane=Gone;
Belive=Quickly;
Brawly=Wall;
Hurdie=Buttock |
|
| « Back |
|
|
|
|
|
