Ievan Polkka? Love it!
Reminds me a bit of an old Jacobian diss on King George called
Cam Ye O'er Frae France.
Some background the song
Cam ye o'er frae France is a Scots mocking[1] folk song from the time of the Jacobite Revolution in the 18th century.
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, - commonly referred to as the Sow and the Goose - and his half-sister Sophia von Kielmansegg. 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.[2]
[edit]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 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;
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
belyve=quickly;
blade=a person of weak, soft constitution from rapid overgrowth;
bonny woman=a woman of loose character;
braid=broad;
brawly=well;
claith=cloth;
gane=gone;
gin=if, whether;
goosie=diminutive of goose, derisive nickname for the King's mistress;
ha's and mailins=houses and farmlands;
hurdie=buttock;
kittle housie=brothel;
linkin=tripping along;
Lunnon=London;
niffer=haggle or exchange;
tint=lost;
wab=web (or length) of cloth)
Regards,
Jim Clark
There's probably a thousand different takes on it, although my favorites are by the incomparable Maddy Prior with the band Steeleye Span. This live video doesn't have the best sound quality. But you really get to see the level of dramatic performance Maddy could bring to a song. She was also into the 'trad' dancing thing long before
River Dance hyper-refined it and made it mainstream. In a club setting she'd sing and dance around the entire room all night, alone and with audience members, and never miss a single note or step. Sweet and talented woman! Would there were more performers like her.
BTW, Maddy and the band can
still do it!
As someone else pointed out, nobody will ever deliver a cutting put-down better than a Scots bard.
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