Ye Jacobites by Name est une chanson traditionnelle écossaise qui fait référence aux révoltes jacobites qui ont eu lieu en Écosse entre 1688 et 1746. La chanson est à l'origine une attaque contre les Jacobites vue du point de vue whig, mais Robert Burns la réécrit vers 1791 pour en faire une chanson avec une vision antiguerre et humaniste plus générale. Cette version est celle qui est connue au XXIe siècle[1].
Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear, give an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name,
Your fautes I will proclaim,
Your doctrines I maun blame, you shall hear.
What is Right, and What is Wrang, by the law, by the law?
What is Right and what is Wrang by the law?
What is Right, and what is Wrang?
A short sword, and a lang,
A weak arm and a strang, for to draw.
What makes heroic strife, famed afar, famed afar?
What makes heroic strife famed afar?
What makes heroic strife?
To whet th' assassin's knife,
Or haunt a Parent's life, wi' bluidy war?
Then let your schemes alone, in the state, in the state,
Then let your schemes alone in the state.
So let your schemes alone,
Adore the rising sun,
And leave a man undone, to his fate.
Paroles d'origine
You Jacobites by Name, lend an ear, lend an ear,
You Jacobites by Name, lend an ear;
You Jacobites by Name,
Your thoughts I will proclaim,
Some says you are to blame for this Wear.
With the Pope you covenant, as they say, as they say,
With the Pope you covenant, as they say,
With the Pope you covenant,
And Letters there you sent,
Which made your Prince present to array.
Your Prince and Duke o'Perth, where they go, where they go,
Your Prince and Duke o'Perth, where they go,
Your Prince and Duke o'Perth,
They're Cumb'rers o' the Earth,
Causing great Hunger and Dearth where they go.
He is the King of Reef, I'll declare, I'll declare,
He is the King of Reef, I'll declare,
He is the King of Reef,
Of a Robber and o' Thief,
To rest void of Relief when he's near.
They marched thro' our Land cruelly, cruelly,
They marched thro' our Land cruelly,
They marched thro' our Land
With a bloody thievish Band
To Edinburgh then they wan Treachery.
To Preston then they came, in a Rout, in a Rout,
To Preston then they came, in a Rout;
To Preston then they came,
Brave Gard'ner murd'red then.
A Traitor did command, as we doubt.
To England then they went, as bold, as bold,
To England then they went, as bold;
To England then they went,
And Carlisle they ta'en't,
The Crown they fain would ha'en't, but behold.
Enregistrements
De nombreux groupes, dont beaucoup d'envergure internationale, ont enregistré Ye Jacobites by Name, y compris :
Owen Hand, sur son second album I Loved a Lass (1966)
