Ye Jacobites by Name

The song "Ye Jacobites by Name" is always listed as a pro Jacobite song, but listening to the lyrics this does not make any sense. I believe that the song is listed as a pro-Jacobite song by many people because it was included in James Hogg's Jacobite Relics of Scotland. I suppose before I go on you are likely wondering who the hell Jacobites are. First, they have nothing to do with the French Revolution those are Jacobins. Second, they have everything to do with the succession of the English monarchy. The current House of Windsor are actually usurpers to the throne of England descendent from the Hanoverian line. The proper house is still the House of Stuart, which was initially deposed in the Revolution of 1688 and then completely ignored in favor of the Hanovarians by the Act of Succession.

 Ye Jacobites by Name

     Ye Jacobites by name lend an ear, lend an ear

     Ye Jacobites by name lend an ear

     Ye Jacobites by name your faults I will proclaim

     Your doctrines I must blame and you shall hear, you shall hear

     Your doctrines I must blame and 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, that should know all along

The weaker man must run for the grove, for the grove

The weaker man must run for the grove

     Chorus

What makes heroic strife, fame and fare; fame and fare

What makes historic strife, fame and fare

What makes historic strife to wet the assassin’s knife?

To end a parent’s life with bloody war, bloody war

To end a parent’s life with bloody war

     Chorus

Let the (So leave) schemes alone in the state, in the state

Let the (So leave) schemes alone in the state

Let the (So leave) schemes alone, ignore the rising son

And leave a man alone (undone) to his fate, to his fate

And leave a man alone (undone) to his fate

     Chorus

You Jacobites by name lend an ear, lend an ear

You Jacobites by name lend an ear

The second stanza does seem to indicate a pro-Jacobite sentiment "to end a parent's life with bloody war..." as it was Mary Stuart wife to William of Orange who helped to lead the rebellion against her father, James II during the Revolution of 1688. However, it is likely that the author was thinking more about the concept of the king as the father of the nation when the lyric was written. After all the goal of the Jacobites was to kill the current king, George I and replace him with James III. This interpretation is also supported by the third stanza, "ignore the rising son," which is clearly referring the pretender to the throne James III. Therefore this is likely an anti-Jacobite song that Hogg simply included in his collection of songs and poetry about Jacobitism not a pro-Jacobite song.