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Ye Jacobites By Name
Traditional - This can be a very powerful song. I used it for the filk "Don't Step Upon My Dream"The Jacobites (from the Latin Jacobus, meaning James) were Highlanders who were in support of James VII. James had been removed as Scotland's king after having ruled only four years. They challenged the government who had appointed William, James' son-in-law, as the new ruler. William was a Presbyterian and became the natural enemy to these Catholic Highlanders. The Jacobites lost the battle and James went to France. William did not want such a rebellion to repeat itself so he planned to show the Highlanders who was to be in control of matters. A tragedy of enormous magnitude was soon to come....at the valley of Glencoe. (See also “Glencoe”)
Opposition to William continued. As long as William continued to be a Protestant, there was to be conflict with the Highlanders. William had a scheme. He targeted Alexander MacIan MacDonald of Glencoe. Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon was given orders to go to Glencoe and lodge with the MacDonald's there. The orders read in part, "You are hereby ordered to fall upon the MacDonalds of Glencoe and put all to the sword under seventy; you are to have a special care that the old fox and his sons doe on no account escape your hands." Captain Campbell arrived with his men. They spent a fortnight with the MacDonalds who graciously welcomed them. Then one night, upon MacIan's invitation, Campbell came to dinner along with two of his officers. It was February 1692. Unbeknownst to MacIan, Campbell had ordered masses of troops to surround the glen and block any escape. In the middle of the night, troops began going through the village and slaughtering the innocent MacDonalds whilst they slept. MacIan was shot and killed. A few of the MacDonalds managed to escape but later many perished in the inclimate weather. The point was made to the Highlanders.
Am E7
Ye Jacobites by name, lend an ear, lend an ear!
Am
Ye Jacobites by name, lend an ear,
C G
Ye Jacobites by name, your faults I will proclaim,
Am E7
Your doctrines I maun blame - you shall hear, you shall hear!
Am
Your doctrines I maun blame - you shall hear!Am E7
What is right, and what is wrong, by the law, by the law?
Am
What is right, and what is wrong, by the law?
C G
What is right, and what is wrong? A short sword and a long,
Am E7
A weak arm and a strong, for to draw, for to draw!
Am
A weak arm and a strong, for to draw! Chorus...Am E7
What makes heroic strife, famed afar, famed afar?
Am
What makes heroic strife famed afar?
C G
What makes heroic strife? To whet th' assassin's knife,
Am E7
Or hunt a Parent's life, wi bluidy war, wi bluidy war! bluidy = bloody say blue-dee
Am
Or hunt a Parent's life, wi bluidy war! Chorus...Am E7
Then let your schemes alone, in the State, in the State!
Am
Then let your schemes alone, in the State!
C G
Then let your schemes alone, Adore the rising sun,
Am E7
And leave a man alone, to his fate, to his fate!
Am
And leave a man alone, to his fate! Chorus...
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