JACOBITE SONGS AND BALLADS. CARLE, AN' THE KING COME. This was originally a Cavalier song of the days of Cromwell; but as the words were applicable to almost every change of circumstances which occurred in the fortunes of the house of Stuart prior to the battle of Culloden, it has been more uniformly popular than any other. Perhaps the sweetness and originality of the air to which it is sung, may likewise have contributed to render it so permanently a favourite. exclamation transferred from the carle to the cogie, in the last stanza, is particularly terse and humorous, and entirely Scottish. CARLE, an' the king come, Thou shalt dance, and I will sing, I trow we swapped for the worse, The And that we'll tell them at the cross, When yellow corn grows on the rigs, Nae mair wi' pinch and drouth we'll dine, Carle, an' the king come. Cogie, an' the king come, Cogie, an' the king come, I'se be fou, and thou'se be toom, Cogie, an' the king come. THE RESTORATION. Though originally a birth-day ode of the Cavaliers, this song was at an early period of their evil fortunes adopted by the Jacobites, and made to do service in their cause. Being sung to a very fine air, it was long a favourite; though its "words" (it would be too undeserved a compliment to call them poetry) are both weak and vulgar. To curb usurpation, by th' assistance of France, With love to his country, see Charlie advance! He's welcome to grace and distinguish this day, The sun brighter shines, and all nature looks gay. Your glasses charge high, 'tis in great Charles' praise ! To his success your voices and instruments raise. Approach, glorious Charles, to this desolate land, In his train see sweet Peace, fairest queen of the sky, Ev'ry bliss in her look, ev'ry charm in her eye, Whilst oppression, corruption, vile slav'ry, and fear, At his wish'd-for return never more shall appear. Your glasses, etc. Whilst in Pleasure's soft arms millions now court repose, Our hero flies forth, though surrounded with foes; How hateful's the tyrant who lives by false fame, Ye brave clans, on whom we just honour bestow, O think on the source whence our dire evils flow! Commanded by Charles, advance to Whitehall, And fix them in chains who would Britons enthral. Your glasses, etc. THE BLACKBIRD. This song, evidently Jacobite, appears to have first seen the light in Allan Ramsay's "Tea Table Miscellany." Allan was usually cautious of offending the ruling powers, and perhaps did not see the political meaning of the song. Though a favourite in Scotland during and after the rebellion of 1715, it is probable that it is of Irish origin. Both in Ireland and in Scotland the old Pretender, from the darkness of his complexion, was familiarly known to his friends as the Blackbird. Mr. Samuel Lover says, in his "Lyrics of Ireland,” that “the Hibernian origin of this song cannot be 'questioned for a moment by any one familiar with the phraseology and peculiar structure of Anglo-Irish songs. The air, moreover, to which it is sung is given in Bunting's last collection." ONCE on a morning of sweet recreation, I heard a fair lady a-making her moan, With sighing and sobbing, and sad lamentation, Aye singing, "My Blackbird for ever is flown! He's all my heart's treasure, my joy, and my pleasure, So justly, my love, my heart follows thee; And I am resolved, in foul or fair weather, To seek out my Blackbird, wherever he be. "I will go, a stranger to peril and danger, For he's constant and kind, and courageous in mind. In England a stranger he seemeth to be; * Mr. Lover's version has "Ireland or France." |