Traditional & Folk Songs with lyrics & midi music  

www.traditionalmusic.co.uk Cam Ye O'er Frae France 
Cam Ye O'er Frae France 
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: Madame, are ye ready? They'll be back belyue 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! 
Note: 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. "Bobbing 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. MJ 
Lunnon=London; Kittle Housie=Brothel; Linkin=Tripping along; Claith=Cloth; Niffer=Haggle; Gin=If; Wab=Web (or length) of cloth; Tint=Lost; Ha's and Mailins=Houses and Farmlands; Gane=Gone;=Belyve=Quickly; Brawly=Wall; Hurdie=Buttock 
Recorded by Ewan MacColl on Jacobite Songs and Black and White; Gaughan on No More Forever; Steeleye Span on Parcel of Rogues 
SOF