"Cam Ye O'er Frae France" The Holohan Sisters

Here's two mischievous angels of song Jane and Jenny Holohan together they call themselves "The Holohan sisters and are from from Dublin Ireland. Jane on vocals and Jenny on guitar and vocals create the sort of harmonies to die for.

This essentialy Irish traditional duo draw many of their songs from the songbooks of Ewan Mccoll and here they give us there lovely version of "Cam Ye O'er Frae France " which is probably where they got this song from.

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)
[edit]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
All rights are reserved on this video sound recording copyright Jim Clark 2012