Bonnie Dundee

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Bonnie Dundee

Bonnie Dundee, is a song about John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee

John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee

John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee was a Scotland soldier and nobleman, a Tory and an Scottish Episcopal Church. Claverhouse is remembered by history in two distinct characters....
, who was known by this nickname. The song has been used as a regimental march by several Scottish regiments in the British army and was adapted by Confederate troops in the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
.

Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee was called "Bluidy Clavers" (Bloody Claverhouse) by his opponents, but Bonnie Dundee by his followers among the Jacobite

Jacobitism

Jacobitism was the political movement dedicated to the restoration of the House of Stuart kings to the thrones of Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland....
s. He died for the cause at the Battle of Killiecrankie

Battle of Killiecrankie

The Battle of Killiecrankie was fought between Highland Scottish clans supporting King James VII of Scotland and government troops supporting King William III of England on July 27, 1689, during the Glorious Revolution....
and a century later was immortalised in a poem by Walter Scott

Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet, was a prolific Scotland historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time.In some ways Scott was the first English-language author to have a truly international career in his lifetime, with many contemporary readers all over Europe, Australia, and North America....
.

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Encyclopedia

Bonnie Dundee, is a song about John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee

John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee

American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
.

Background

John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee was called "Bluidy Clavers" (Bloody Claverhouse) by his opponents, but Bonnie Dundee by his followers among the Jacobite

Jacobitism

Battle of Killiecrankie

Walter Scott

Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
regiment

Regiment

A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
s:

The Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (gallop-past);
1st Hussars
1st Hussars

The 1st Hussars is an armoured Primary Reserve regiment of the Canadian Forces, currently based in London, Ontario and Sarnia, Ontario....
;
The Brockville Rifles
The Brockville Rifles

The Brockville Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is fifteenth in the order of precedence.The motto of the regiment is Semper Paratus meaning 'Always Ready'....
;
The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders

Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.They have served in the War of 1812, the Great War and World War II....
; and
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)

The Loyal Edmonton Regiment , or LER, is a Primary Reserve infantry unit of the Canadian Forces based in Edmonton, Alberta. The LER is part of Land Force Western Area's 41 Canadian Brigade Group....
.

The song was parodied by Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pen name Lewis Carroll , was an England author, mathematics, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer....
in Through the Looking Glass

Through the Looking-Glass

Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There is a work of children's literature by Lewis Carroll , generally categorized as literary nonsense....
and by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English author and poet. Born in Mumbai, British India , he is best known for his works of fiction The Jungle Book , Kim , many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King ; and his poems, including Mandalay , Gunga Din , and If? ....
in The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book is a collection of stories written by Rudyard Kipling. The stories were first published in magazines in 1893–4. The original publications contained illustrations, some by Rudyard's father, John Lockwood Kipling....
.

Lyrics (Song)

The Bonnets o' Bonnie Dundee

1. Tae the lairds i' convention t'was Claverhouse

Claverhouse

Claverhouse is an area of Dundee, Scotland. Claverhouse is known to support some of the more affluent constituents of Dundee. John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee , known to history as "Bonnie Dundee" or "Bluidy Clavers" by his supporters and detractors respectively, was the laird of Claverhouse, although he was born at Glen Ogilvie, near Glamis....
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 bonnets o' bonnie Dundee.

Chorus:

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!

2. 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.

Chorus:

3. 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.

Chorus:

4. Then awa' tae the hills, tae the lea, tae the rocks

E'er I own a usurper, I'll couch wi' the fox!

Then tremble, false Whigs, in the midst o' your glee

Ye hae no seen the last o' my bonnets and me.

Chorus:

Original poem

Bonny Dundee

To the Lords of Convention

Parliament of Scotland

The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Independence Kingdom of Scotland.The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early thirteenth century, and the first meeting for which reliable evidence survives was at Kirkliston in 1235, during the reign of A...
'twas Clavers who spoke.

'Ere the King's crown shall fall there are crowns to be broke;

So let each Cavalier who loves honour and me,

Come follow the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.

Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can, Come saddle your horses, and call up your men; Come open the West Port and let me gang free, And it's room for the bonnets of Bonny Dundee!

Dundee he is mounted, he rides up the street,
The bells are rung backward, the drums they are beat;
But the Provost
Lord Provost

A Lord Provost is the figurative and ceremonial head of one of the principal cities in Scotland. Four cities, City of Aberdeen, City of Dundee, City of Edinburgh and City of Glasgow, have the right to appoint a Lord Provost instead of a provost ....
, douce man, said, "Just e'en let him be,
The Gude Town is weel quit of that Deil of Dundee."
Come fill up my cup, etc.

As he rode down the sanctified bends of the Bow,
Ilk carline was flyting and shaking her pow;
But the young plants of grace they looked couthie and slee,
Thinking luck to thy bonnet, thou Bonny Dundee!
Come fill up my cup, etc.

With sour-featured Whigs the Grass-market
Grassmarket

The Grassmarket is a small area of central Edinburgh, Scotland, named after the old market square at its heart.The Grassmarket is located directly southeast of Edinburgh Castle and comprises what was in past centuries one of Edinburgh's main markets, as well as the setting for public executions....
was crammed,
As if half the West had set tryst to be hanged;
There was spite in each look, there was fear in each e'e,
As they watched for the bonnets of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.

These cowls of Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,170. It is roughly equidistant between Glasgow and Ayr, and is the second largest town in Ayrshire....
had spits and had spears,
And lang-hafted gullies to kill cavaliers;
But they shrunk to close-heads and the causeway was free,
At the toss of the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.

He spurred to the foot of the proud Castle
Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is an ancient stronghold which dominates the sky-line of the city of Edinburgh from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock....
rock,
And with the gay Gordon
George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon

George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon Order of the Thistle, Privy Council of Scotland , styled the Marquess of Huntly from 1661 to 1684, was a Scottish peer....
he gallantly spoke;
"Let Mons Meg
Mons Meg

Mons Meg is a large Bombard now located at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. There are conflicting theories about its origins, but it appears from the accounts of Philip III, Duke of Burgundy that it was made to his order around 1449 and sent as a gift 8 years later to King James II of Scotland, with other artillery supplies....
and her marrows speak twa words or three,
For the love of the bonnet of Bonny Dundee."
Come fill up my cup, etc.

The Gordon demands of him which way he goes?
"Where'er shall direct me the shade of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose

James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose , was a Scottish people nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I of England as the English Civil War developed....
!
Your Grace in short space shall hear tidings of me,
Or that low lies the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.

"There are hills beyond Pentland
Pentland Hills

The Pentland Hills are a range of hills to the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The range is around 20 miles in length, and runs south west from Edinburgh towards Biggar, South Lanarkshire and the upper River Clyde....
and lands beyond Forth
River Forth

The River Forth , 47 km long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland.The Forth rises in Loch Ard in the Trossachs, a mountainous area some 30 km west of Stirling....
,
If there's lords in the Lowlands, there's chiefs in the North;
There are wild Duniewassals three thousand times three,
Will cry hoigh! for the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.

"There's brass on the target of barkened bull-hide;
There's steel in the scabbard that dangles beside;
The brass shall be burnished, the steel shall flash free,
At the toss of the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.

"Away to the hills, to the caves, to the rocks
Ere I own an usurper, I'll couch with the fox;
And tremble, false Whigs, in the midst of your glee,
You have not seen the last of my bonnet and me!"
Come fill up my cup, etc.

He waved his proud hand, the trumpets were blown,
The kettle-drums clashed and the horsemen rode on,
Till on Ravelston
Ravelston

Ravelston is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, to the south of Queensferry Road, the .The area is comprised primarily of detached and semi-detached housing, as well as modern apartments and many bungalows....
's cliffs and on Clermiston
Clermiston

Clermiston is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland, to the north of Clerwood and west of Corstorphine Hill.Clermiston estate, built in 1954, was part of a major 1950s house-building programme to tackle overcrowding in Leith and Gorgie....
's lee
Died away the wild war-notes of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can, Come saddle the horses, and call up the men, Come open your gates, and let me gae free, For it's up with the bonnets of Bonny Dundee!

Parodies

Lewis Carroll

From Chapter IX of Through the Looking Glass:

To the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said
"I've a sceptre in hand, I've a crown on my head.
Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be
Come dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen and Me!"

Then fill up the glasses as quick as you can,
And sprinkle the table with buttons and bran:
Put cats in the coffee, and mice in the tea--
And welcome Queen Alice with thirty-times-three!

"O Looking-Glass creatures," quoth Alice, "draw near!
'Tis an honour to see me, a favour to hear:
'Tis a privilege high to have dinner and tea
Along with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and Me!"

Then fill up the glasses with treacle and ink,
Or anything else that is pleasant to drink:
Mix sand with the cider, and wool with the wine--
And welcome Queen Alice with ninety-times-nine!

Rudyard Kipling

From "Parade Song of the Camp Animals", which follows the story "Her Majesty's Servants", in The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book is a collection of stories written by Rudyard Kipling. The stories were first published in magazines in 1893–4. The original publications contained illustrations, some by Rudyard's father, John Lockwood Kipling....
:

By the brand on my shoulder, the finest of tunes
Is played by the Lancers, Hussars, and Dragoons,
And it's sweeter than "Stables" or "Water" to me--
The Cavalry Canter of "Bonnie Dundee"!

Then feed us and break us and handle and groom,
And give us good riders and plenty of room,
And launch us in column of squadron and see
The way of the war-horse to "Bonnie Dundee"!

American Civil War
Riding a Raid (Traditional)

During the American Civil War traditional English, Irish, and Scottish songs were often sung or modified. The Confederates did this very often. The song Riding a Raid takes place during the 1862 Antietam Campaign
Battle of Antietam

The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern United States soil....
. J.E.B. Stuart
J.E.B. Stuart

James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart was an American soldier from Virginia and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. He was known to his friends as "Jeb", from the initials of his given names....
's Confederate cavalry set off on a screening movement on the flank of Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee

Robert Edward Lee , was a career United States United States Army officer , an engineer, and among the most celebrated generals in American history....
's army in order to give Lee time to prepare his army to meet the Union army after Northern general George McClellan
George McClellan

George McClellan may refer to:* George B. McClellan , U.S. Army Major General during the American Civil War* George McClellan , Congressman 1913-1915...
had gained information on Lee's location and plans. The Campaign would culminate in the battle of Antietam, or Sharpsburg as the Confederates called it. This would be the bloodiest day in American history and while the battle was indecisive, Lee was forced to abandon any hope of continuing the campaign.

Riding a Raid

'Tis old Stonewall the Rebel that leans on his sword,
And while we are mounting prays low to the Lord:
"Now each cavalier that loves honor and right,
Let him follow the feather of Stuart tonight."

Chorus:

Come tighten your girth and slacken your rein;

Come buckle your blanket and holster again;

Try the click of your trigger and balance your blade,

For he must ride sure that goes riding a raid.

Now gallop, now gallop to swim or to ford!
Old Stonewall, still watching, prays low to the Lord:
"Goodbye, dear old Rebel! The river's not wide,
And Maryland's lights in her window to guide."

Chorus:

There's a man in the White House with blood on his mouth!
If there's knaves in the North, there are braves in the South.
We are three thousand horses, and not one afraid;
We are three thousand sabres and not a dull blade.

Chorus:

Then gallop, then gallop by ravines and rocks!
Who would bar us the way take his toll in hard knocks;
For with these points of steel, on the line of the Penn
We have made some fine strokes -- and we'll make 'em again

Chorus:

Bonnie Dundee

Background

Lyrics (Song)

Original poem

Parodies

Lewis Carroll

Rudyard Kipling

American Civil War

See also