Track 4: Ye Jacobites by Name

traditional
lyrics by Robert Burns (1759–1796)
arranged by The MacLeods

The Jacobites were supporters of the claim to the English throne by James Stuart and his descendants. There are a lot of songs in favour of the Jacobites and their victorious battles (like "Johnnie Cope").
Robert Burns' song "Ye Jacobites by Name" has a different point of view and decries the violence they used in their attempt to achieve their political ends.
In 1746 the Jacobite uprising was finally crushed at the Battle of Culloden and the English came down hard on the Scots, banning the kilt and outlawing the clan system.

Lyrics

Ye Jacobites by name,
Lend an ear, lend an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name,
Lend 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 wrong,
By the law, by the law?
What is right and what is wrong,
By the law?
What is right and what is wrong,
By short sword or by long?
A week arm or a strong
For to draw, for to draw
A week arm or a strong
For to draw.

What makes heroic strife
Famed afar, famed afar?
What makes heroic strife
Famed afar?
What makes heroic strife
To whet the assassin's knife,
And haunt a parent's life
Wi' bloody war, bloody war
And haunt a parent's life
Wi' bloody war.

Then let your schemes alone
In the state, in the state
Then let your schemes alone
In the state.
Then let your schemes alone,
Adore the risin' sun
And leave a man undone
To his fate, to his fate,
And leave a man undone
To his fate.