Bonnie Dundee

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Lesley Nelson
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The words are by Sir Walter Scott. There is an older lyrics version called Jockey's Escape to Dundee. The tune may have been composed by Charlotte Sainton-Dolby in the 19th Century.

In The Scottish Orpheus (circa 1900), Adam Hamilton credits the tune to Dr. E. F. Rimbault. Rimbault was a composer of operas and songs. He was the organist of the Swiss Church in Soho (1832). He was also a founder of the Musical Antiquarian Society (1840).

For other Jacobite tunes go to the bottom of The Contemplator's Short History of the Jacobite Uprisings.

Tae the lairds i' convention
T'was Claverhouse spoke
E'er the Kings crown go down,
There'll be crowns to be broke;
Then let each cavalier
Who loves honour and me
Come follow the bonnet
O' bonnie Dundee.
Come fill up my cup,
Come fill up my can
Saddle my horses
And call out my men
And it's Ho! for the west port
And let us gae free,
And we'll follow the bonnets
O' bonnie Dundee!

Dundee he is mounted,
He rides doon the street,
The bells they ring backwards,
The drums they are beat,
But the Provost, douce man,
Says "Just e'en let him be
For the toon is well rid of that
De'il o' Dundee."
Come fill up my cup,
Come fill up my can
Saddle my horses
And call out my men
And it's Ho! for the west port
And let us gae free,
And we'll follow the bonnets
O' bonnie Dundee!

There are hills beyond Pentland
And lands beyond Forth,
Be there lairds i' the south,
There are chiefs i' the north!
There are brave duniewassals,
Three thousand times three
Will cry "Hoy!" for the bonnets
O' bonnie Dundee.
Come fill up my cup,
Come fill up my can
Saddle my horses
And call out my men
And it's Ho! for the west port
And let us gae free,
And we'll follow the bonnets
O' bonnie Dundee!

Then awa to the hills,
To the lea to the rocks,
Ere I own a usurper
I'll crouch with the fox
So tremble false Whigs,
In the midst o'your glee,
Ye have not seen the last
O' my bonnets and me.
Come fill up my cup,
Come fill up my can
Saddle my horses
And call out my men
And it's Ho! for the west port
And let us gae free,
And we'll follow the bonnets
O' bonnie Dundee!
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