From "The Jacobite Relics of Scotland" Vol 1 by James Hogg. From the 1715 attempt to restore the Stewart dynasty. This is a scathing commentary on the political situation - and in particular on the members of the Scottish Establishment comfortably esconced in exile in France - prior to the 1715 Rising. All the names in the song refer to actual people, although some are lost to obscurity these days. e.g., "Geordie Whelps" was George I, "Bobbing John" was the Earl of Mar, known as "Bobbing" because of his tendency to shift his allegiance to whoever looked like being victorious.

The meanings of many Scots words can be inferred from context or similarity to English words with a common root. For the more difficult used in this song, here's a brief glossary.

niffer :

argue

tint :

lost

belyve :

presently

hurdie :

buttock

More help in the General Guide to Scots

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