Songs Of War

I have heard a few versions of this song. The best in my opinion, is Steeleye Spans. Off the album Tonights the night. It is a live recording, the studio version is not as good, very experimental.

Fighting for Strangers


Fighting for Strangers

cho: What makes you go away, fighting for strangers,
When you could be save at home, free from all dangers?

A recruiting sergeant came my way,
To an inn nearby at the break of day.
He said: "Young Johnny you're a fine young man,
Do you want to march along behind a military band,
With a scarlet coat, a big cocked hat
And a muscet on your shoulder?"
A shilling he took and he kissed the book,
Oh Johnny, what will happen to ya?

The recruiting sergeant marched away,
From the inn nearby at the break of day.
Johnny went too, with half a ring,
He was off to be a soldier, he'd be fighting for the king,
In a far off war, in a far off land,
To face a foreign soldier.
But how will he fare when there's lead in the air,
Oh poor Johnny, what will happen to ya?

The sun shone high on a barren land,
As a thin red line took the military stand.
Sling shot, chain shot, grape shot too,
Swords and bayonets thrusting through,
Poor Johnny fell but the day was won
And the King is grateful to ya.
With your soldier deeds done, we're sending you home,
Oh poor Johnny, what have they done to ya?

Oh, they said he was a hero and not to grieve
Over two wooden legs and an empty sleeve.
They carried him home and they sat him down
With a military pension and a medal from the crown.
You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg,
The enemy nearly slew ya.
You'll have to be put with a bowl to beg,
Oh poor Johnny what have they done to ya?

cho: (2x)


Note: This is one of the most intense 19th century anti-war
songs.
It seems to be a combination of pieces of several other songs, the
first two verses are reminiscent of the Irish recruiting songs like
"Twa Recruiting Sergeants" or "Arthur McBride" with a short hint
at the Broken Token theme ("with half a ring")
while the second half of the last verse is snatched as a whole
from "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya".

To the tune of "He Who Would Valiant Be".

This post has been edited by barddas on 02-Oct-2003, 09:19 AM

Oh, she has such a grand voice. I have loved it since the first time I have heard it. It really shines on SS's live version of Cam ye O fer france!

We are starting to arrange fighting for strangers... Very chilling piece.

What is the name of the Christmas album? I have a few holiday songs that she has recorded....

would love to hear her on Highlander.... what a voice... But you already know that

I picked up a UK compilation a few months back that has the Holly and Ivy.

I love all around my hat too! We do that one, but from male perspective. Have yet to find a lovely female voice to accompany my gruff. LOL!!!!

I am sure you will find someone out there to sing with you.

Ye Jacobites by Name

Barry Taylor


Lyrics


Ye Jacobites by name
Give an ear, give an ear
Ye Jacobites by name give an ear
Ye Jacobites by name
Your faults I will proclaim
Your doctrines I must 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,
Aa short sword and a long
A weak arm and 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
Or hunt a parent's life
With bloody war.

Then leave your schemes alone
In the state, in the state
Then leave your schemes alone in the state
Then leave your schemes alone,
Adore the rising sun
And leave a man alone
To his fate.

Then leave your schemes alone,
Adore the rising sun
And leave a man alone to his fate...
And leave a man alone to his fate.


info
The tune may be a version of Put in All in 'Pills'. It was printed as The Battle of Falkirk Garland in 1746 where it was noted as sung to the tune of Captain Kid.

The tune was also used for Sam Hall, and Davy Louston.

Unlike other tunes of the Jacobite era this is a condemnation of the Jacobite cause.

I'm a big fan of "Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye"

On Star Trek: TNG, Colm Meaney sings a war song... I can't remember what it was called though. Anyone here know?

Here is a song that had been in the Highlander top 10 for some time now

Donald Macgillavry.



Footnote : A Jacobite song to commemorate the Battle of Culloden on 16th April 1745. The song might refer to either the 1715 or 1745 Jacobite Rising; or perhaps the name Donald MacGillavry might just be used to denote Highlanders loyal to the Stewart Cause.



Donald's gane up the hill hard and hungry,
Donald comes down the hill wild and angry;
Donald will clear the gouk's nest cleverly,
Here's to the king and Donald Mcgillavry.
        Come like a weighbauk, Donald Macgillavry,
        Come like a weighbauk, Donald Macgillavry,
        Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly:
        Off wi' the counterfeit, Donald Macgillavry.

Donald's run o'er the hill but his tether, man,
As he were wud, or stang'd wi' an ether, man;
When he comes back, there's some will look merrily;
Here's to King James and Donald Macgillavry.
        Come like a weaver, Donald Macgillavry,
        Come like a weaver, Donald Macgillavry,
        Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly;
        Gie them full measure, my Donald Macgillavry.

Donald has foughten wi' rief and roguery;
Donald has dinner'd wi' banes and beggary,
Better it were for Whigs and Whiggery
Meeting the devil than Donald Macgillavry.
        Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry,
        Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry,
        Push about, in and out, thimble them cleverly,
        Here's to King James and Donald Macgillavry.

Donald's the callan that brooks nae tangleness;
Whigging and prigging and a' newfangleness,
They maun be gane: he winna be baukit man:
He maun hae justice, or faith he'll tak it, man.
        Come like a cobler, Donald Macgillavry,
        Come like a cobler, Donald Macgillavry;
        Beat them, and bore them, and lingel them cleverly,
        Up wi King James and Donald Macgillavry.

Donald was mumpit wi' mirds and mockery;
Donald was blinded wi' blads o' property;
Arles ran high, but makings were naething, man,
Lord, how Donald is flyting and fretting, man.
        Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry,
        Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry;
        Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly,
        Up wi' King James and Donald Macgillavry.

....love this post, Barddas. It's like stepping back in time to read songs such as 'Ye Jacobites by Name'. It gives ye a great sense of what people were feeling and thinking at the time. Looking forward to reading more lyrics.

I wish I would have read this Thread a while back.

I had looking for the Lyrics for "Ye Jacobites by Name". I did find them even in the Celtic Language.

Thanks Barddas, even though I was a day late and a dollar short.

This is one of my FAVORITE songs! It is very difficult to play, and to sing( At the same time none the less ) It jumps from 4/4 to 3/4 every other bar....A little hard to keep track of with the mouth full of words that this song has.
Also, anyone wondering this is in Auld Scots/Lallans. This is one of the languages that, Catriona is helping to preserve. Cat, PLEASE correct me if I am wrong! I would hate to give out incorrect information. There are some translations/meanings to some of the words after the lyrics...

History-

[From Hogg's Jacobite Reliques, Trad.
George I, being a protestant German king, was viewed with ridicule and hatred by the Jacobite rebels. This is a scurrilous attack upon him and his court.

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 favourite 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.

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!

(belyve=quickly;
blade=a person of weak, soft constitution from rapid overgrowth;
braid=broad;
brawly=wall;
claith=cloth;
gane=gone;
gin=if, whether;
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)
[from: Folk Songs and Ballads of Scotland]

This post has been edited by barddas on 20-Jan-2004, 02:03 PM

This is a fun song to play! Everyone always seems to enjoy it!

history-
In 1580, at the pass of Glen Malure in Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne overthrew the forces of the
Crown under Lord Grey de Wilton. The victory is commemorated
in this great song.

Lift Mac Cahir Óg your face,
brooding o'er the old disgrace
That black FitzWilliam stormed your place,
and drove you to the fern
Grey said victory was sure,
soon the firebrand he'd secure
Until he met at Glenmalure:
Feach Mac Hugh O'Byrne!

Chorus:

Curse and swear, Lord Kildare!
Feach will do what Feach will dare
Now FitzWilliam, have a care!
Fallen is your star, low!
Up with halbert, out with sword!
On we'll go, for, by the Lord,
Feach Mac Hugh has given the word:
"Follow me up to Carlow!"


See the swords of Glen Imayle,
flashing o'er the English Pale!
See all the children of the Gael
beneath O'Byrne's banners!
Rooster of a fighting stock,
would you let a Saxon cock
Crow out upon an Irish rock?
Fly up and teach him manners!

Chorus

From Tassagart to Clonmore,
there flows a stream of Saxon gore
Och, great is Rory Óg O'More
at sending loons to Hades!
White is sick and Grey is fled,
now for black FitzWilliam's head!
We'll send it over, dripping red,
to Liza and her ladies!

Chorus

2 Barddas:

I can see you play those songs as well.
Could you please post here chords or tabs for Donald MacGillavry? If it's not bold to ask.
Thank you in advance.

I have it at home. Give me a day or so and I will get it!


Cheers!

Great marching tune, Barddas. One of our favs when playing at one of the festivals.

Eamon