16 - Bonnie Dundee

[@3tangle3]

Keep these songs alive, not for the message though its good but for its our heritage and a bloody good song!

[@pemacal57]

Sadness engulfs me...memories of Sir Walter Scott's poem, even John Graham himself…Lord Claverhouse…a warrior , a Knight, an Scottish nobleman…loyal to his true and law King…winner at Killikrankie….killed in combat by his Scottish blood brothers…not by cruel Englishmen…. It is one of my favourites old folk Scottish tunes and songs…..

[@jennistrom9271]

Have just discovered Ronnie and the Corrie's . They give me joy

[@Chewy7575]

Superb, as they always were. RIP Roy.

[@kawapilot]

Bonnie Dundees sword is on display in killiecrankie...He Fell for the right reason, and may I add...shame on those that voted no and soiled the bravery of those that forged a proud nation..

[@aileenlightbody91]

The Corries did a lot to promote Scottish independence through their songs long before anyone thought of a referendum. Shame they weren't still around in 2014.

[@RichardSmith-ew3xz]

John Graham of Claverhouse would be appalled at what has befallen his native Dundee... The highest drug deaths in Europe....but hey, we have a new museum now, that will fix that right up.

[@kennyrowat9838]

Lads, scotland was a bankrupt country, famine sweeping the land, sectarian violence and divides at every level in Bonnie Dundees days. Before Scotland can even begin to try to become its own country again it needs a period of peace and reconciliation which has never happened since then. We are still a bitterly divided country on the brink of bankruptcy 300 odd years on.

[@Thefoxyscot]

I've sung a couple of their songs in bars, always a great reaction. Timeless music!

[@abrhamgebeyehu933]

Tae the Lords o' convention 'twas Claverhouse spoke E'er the King's Crown go down there are crowns to be broke So each caviler who loves honor and me Let him follow the bonnets o' Bonnie Dundee Come fill up my cup, come fill up can Come saddle my horses and call out my men Unhook the West Port and let us gae free For it's up with the bonnets o' Bonnie Dundee Dundee he is mounted and rides up the street The bells tae ring backwards, the drums they are beat But the provost douce man says, 'Just let it be.' For the toon is well rid o' that devil Dundee There are hills beyond Pentland and lands beyond Forth Be there lords in the south, there are chiefs in the north There are brave downie wassles three thousand times three Cry hey for the bonnets o' Bonnie Dundee Then awa tae the hill to the lea and the rocks Ere I own a usurper I'll couch with the fox So tremble false whigs in the midst of yer glee For you've no seen the last of my bonnets and me

[@murdochmclennan3510]

abrham gebeyehu: In the 2nd line of the 2nd stanza, it's "the drums they are beat". In the 3rd line of the same stanza, it's "For the toon is well rid". The last line of the 3rd stanza begins, "Who'll cry". Finally, in the last stanza, "lea" is the correct spelling; also, it's "I'll couch with the fox"; and the 3rd line reads "So tremble false whigs".

[@bzzzz1314]

Magic, absolutely brilliant!

[@charlesrogers822]

I met the Devil and Dundee on the banks 'o Killiecrankie!

[@graemegraham1988]

Get in there!

[@JBurdoo]

This was the first version I learned as a child -- My dad still has the LP this was recorded on. Memories...

[@kldudmp]

SCOTLAND!!! great song! love this one!

[@LouiseOC1]

Great song, thanks for posting it.

[@Ledrummer]

The magnitude of the tone of their voice is astonishing 😮

[@randybyrne4865]

Love this version and also love by friends, The Brigadoons.

[@johan0066]

They are the best, thank you.

[@TheDustysix]

Added to my Yiddish Playlist.

[@NorthernSeaShore]

It is curious indeed how lowlanders make the best commanders of highland armies ... perhaps it is because no highland chief will take orders from another highlander, but a lowlander can just about get away with it ... if he has sufficient military prowess, personality and tact!

[@Sipatbana]

Always have liked the Corries But as an Australian with a Scottish Clan Surname what can I say. The Blood is STRONG in my family

[@carloshannon8346]

But was your family Jacobites or Covenanters? Alot of American, Australian, NZ descendants happily sing these Jacobite songs when their ancestors were persecuted and fought against them

[@davelister1]

shout ya bonnie dundee !!

[@murdochmclennan3510]

The people who dislike this song must not believe that Dundee was 'bonnie'.

[@Smudgegs]

Bloody Claverhouse or Bonnie Dundee, discuss (as the history teachers would say 😉 ) 😁

[@Lincoln5string]

Ditto McGrenzer. Enjoyed this. First I heard of this tune was Richard Thompson's instrumental on his album Reel Time. That's one rockin version - Thompson's.

[@Gallowgate]

How the winter nights must fly...

[@michaelriley8476]

That goes along wi' a dundee history massive cover up

[@RichardSmith-ew3xz]

We have the V and A now Michael, so all is good. Just what the city with the highest drug deaths in Europe needed, a museum!!! That will fix that right up.

[@BillDFC]

Only two Lowlanders really managed to inspire Highlanders and both were Grahams. John Graham and James Graham (Montrose).

[@donaldgraham6431]

Ne Oublie.

[@NorthernSeaShore]

You do realize that the Covenanters were responsible for inventing the battle cry "Jesus and no quarter" in one of their battles with Montrose. Fortunately, although they greatly outnumbered him, they did not win ... needless to say ... this being Montrose we are talking about :-)

[@chicken69075]

I'm always sing this when I've had one to many. Now my neighbours know the words. Haha

[@gaconnochie]

Both were being discussed. Traumara suggested Claverhouse was emulating Montrose

[@DundeeFC1893]

Goodman !!

[@usops88]

support from America. we're trying to keep our right's here

[@rondykeman5154]

Some of the comments seem to be confusing Montrose with Claverhouse. Both Grahams but 2 different people.

[@murdochmclennan3510]

You are correct. I'd been thinking the same thing.

[@nacho1560]

He's my greatest historical hero, witchhunter. Maybe because I'm from Dundee and was born close to the area called Claverhouse. The owned a house called Mains Castle which has been rebuilt. He also owned the lands there. It's a shame his tomb in St Brides Kirk close to Killiecrankie has not been looked after and is falling to bits. We don't look after our heroes very well in Scotland.

[@WootTootZoot]

I was riding the ferry back from Normandy D Day events several years ago. There was a group of men from the old KOSB singing All The Blue Bonnets. I asked if they ever sang Bonny Dundee. One chap sad, "ach no, he was a fooking traitor".

[@gillmcgann179]

I'm a dundonian yayy

[@GreatScot007]

lang mi yir lum reek abodee

[@BillDFC]

Hector Nicol kent the right words.....Penman,Cousin and Alan Gilzean...

[@robsargent4]

Very true, therein lies the rub.

[@MUCKER1314]

@3tangle3 WELL SAID !!

[@gaconnochie]

@TheTraumarama2 Montrose was a Covenanter who originally opposed the king's attempt at invading Scotland. He then swapped sides and himself tried unsuccesfully to organise an English invasion of Scotland; then joined up with a mostly Irish invasion of Scotland and was involved in letting the Irish massacre many of the citizens of Aberdeen; then after being defeated by the returning Scottish govt army he later invaded Scotland for a third time this time using Scandinavian troops after which he

[@RocaDeearCenjar]

Or are they saying "saddle?"

[@NorthernSeaShore]

Actually, come to think of it, wasn't John Dalrymple, Masters of Stair, at least partially responsible for Glencoe? And wasn't he violently anti-Claverhouse and didn't he come from a family of ardent Covenanters?...

[@murdochmclennan3510]

Andrew Prinsloo: Yes, Dalrymple was partly responsible for the massacre at Glencoe.

[@NorthernSeaShore]

Great music! FYI: John Graham of Claverhouse was called "Bloody Clavers" after his death by his enemies. He did not persecute anyone. He was a remarkably able and just commander ... which probably inspired more bitterness in his enemies than any of the invented injustices could ever have done. Sir Walter Scott never bothered to find out the truth when he wrote this song.

[@murdochmclennan3510]

Andrea Prinsloo: Sir Walter Scott was ambivalent about Claverhouse. If you read the entire poem from which this clip was taken you can see what I mean.

[@Tarhunna]

A man not fit to tie Ritchie Cameron's shoe.

[@robsargent4]

Quite possibly. There were bad eggs on all sides as far as I can tell. Sorry, some of my earlier comments might be a little convoluted, but hopefully the meaning's still clear enough. I think we actually agree on a fair bit.

[@3tangle3]

even though he 'reputedly saved' will oranges life he was one of the few scots nobles to remain loyal to james II when Orange man willy landed....adding another load of bother to ireland ;)

[@robsargent4]

To be fair if you were attacked by dragoons under his command when you were only trying to listen to a man preaching what you believed to be the word of God then you probably wouldn't have much fondness for Claverhouse either, even if he privately advocated leniency towards the Covenanters & married a Covenanter. If soldiers were ordered by the government to prevent people from worshipping a particular way today, you probably wouldn't be very sympathetic to the soldiers carrying out the orders.

[@grassic]

Agreed, but it wasn't today, that's the way things were then.

[@erracht]

That's a bonnie wee lassie at 1:10.

[@gaconnochie]

@TheTraumarama2 aye on looking over my posts I can be a bit of a grump and pain in the arse at times. sorry about that! Just about all our historical figure have their bad sides as well as good.

[@robsargent4]

But the reason what the Covenanters were doing was illegal (principally gathering round a man who told them about his view on life based on this book he read) was that various Kings had made it illegal to preach if you were not specially-approved by him & anyone who listened to a preacher not approved by him was also breaking the law. Hence admittedly rather fiery evangelical preachers & congregations were turned into outlaws who no longer felt loyal to the King, all because of this law.

[@robsargent4]

Well, he did actually participate in the putting down of the Covenanters, as any soldier loyal to Charles II & later James VI & II would do. If he hadn't then he would have been disobeying orders & disobeying orders from the Kings would be treason. Mind you, I'm sure the Campbell's at Glencoe gave the same excuse (I was only following orders). But you're right in that he was far more moderate & fair than many of his contemporaries, as far as I can tell.

[@gaconnochie]

@anniers7 "Disunion is simply a means for local politicians to expand their influence and job opportunities" I think if you regard Scottish Parliamentarians as local politicians then you're way off the mark as far as most Scots, even unionist Scots, would see it. You may love Scotland but do you understand it? It could equally be said that Scottish Westminster MPs want to maintain their status.

[@robsargent4]

in modern Scotland, but you have to admit that part of the reason the later Stuarts didn't like them was because they preferred Anglicanism (where they could appoint Bishops to run the church the way the King wanted) or Catholicism Now the Presbyterians, who had come to the conclusion that Episcopalianism was no longer acceptable. This was the root of the struggle more than anything else. The method of church governance, in other words, power. In many ways, neither side was really any more right

[@joejohnstone4306]

come on scotland VOTE YES SAY NO TO WESTMINSTER SPEW VOTE YES YES YES

[@robsargent4]

than the other.

[@ScotsLyon]

As we say in french. longtemps peut votre fumée de cheminée

[@murdochmclennan3510]

Long time can your chimney smoke

[@captaincondor2010]

how poetic

[@incongra]

"Bloody Clavers" was interesting but he did persecute the covenanters during the killing times. Whether he committed the atrocities ascribed to him has never been proven. All you can say about him, was that he WAS loyal to his king. But then it was a catholic king. So it is a good song, nothing more.

[@poneil69]

The defeat of the Orange in 1689,if only the same a year later.Saor Alba

[@moragmacgregor6792]

So is this the other side of Killiecrankie or no?

[@gillmcgann179]

An I live in England taking their money ...

[@NorthernSeaShore]

James Graham, Marquis of Montrose did not change sides! He was always loyal to Charles I. He did sign a petition for religious freedom and tolerance, and object to certain unjust legislation, but as soon as those around him turned anti-monarchy, he objected and left. In my opinion, he was Scotland's greatest hero ... greater even than the Bruce.

[@murdochmclennan3510]

Andrea Prinsloo: The song is about JOHN Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee--not JAMES Graham, Marquis of Montrose.

[@poneil69]

Graham rule.

[@donaldgraham6431]

Ne Oublie

[@scotcat52E]

anyone here actually know what this is about lol????

[@murdochmclennan3510]

It commemorates the life & death of John Graham of Claverhouse, who rallied Scottish Highlanders in order to fight and defeat Hugh MacKay at the battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. Claverhouse was fatally wounded; MacKay died 3 years later, in 1682. Claverhouse was "Bloody Clavers" to his opponents; he was "Bonnie Dundee" to his supporters.

[@gaconnochie]

was caught and executed but the Scots. Montrose did fall back in line with the king again but that seems to be as much to do with not being able to live with his Covenanting allies than falling back in love with a despotic monarchy. Montrose distrusted Campbell of Argyl suspecting him off using the Covenanting movement for his own ends. That is he didn't want a King Campbell. As far as I can see they were all three (Charles I, Montrose, Argyl) a disaster for the ordinary people of Scotland

[@poneil69]

1689 defeated William of Orange.

[@madbulgarian]

Don't we all. I suspect you could run on a ticket for Yorkshire independence, though I think we're better off together.

[@NorthernSeaShore]

Very convoluted! - but I think I follow. I was not defending either of the Kings. One must judge them against the backdrop of their own time, of course, but still. The immediate fault lay with Charles I (such an idiot!, being led around by his catholic zealot of a wife). Both his successors had to deal with the problem he created. I rather think Montrose had it right: you sign a petition to the King to tell him that he is behaving badly, but you still defend him against his enemies.

[@michaelriley8476]

His sord belongs in dundee if it wasnae for the war he'd have came hame with his troops buried up there cause couldnae get hame

[@NorthernSeaShore]

In my opinion, it was really James VI and I who was to blame, though … along with Mary Queen of Scots for marrying Darnley in the first place ... especially to ensure the union of the crowns. The King of Scots should never have moved his court to London! He just could not rule by proxy from 300 miles away. They all set more store by the English crown than the Scottish one ... even Bonny Prince Charlie … therein lay the heart of the problem!

[@rifleman1122]

the guy directly behind them looks like he doesn't want to be there at all.

[@murdochmclennan3510]

I suspect he doesn't believe that Dundee was "bonnie."

[@kevinmurphy5222]

FREEDOM BECKONS

[@robsargent4]

I think even the English (well, all except the elite) are starting to agree with you now.

[@NorthernSeaShore]

Indeed he would have put down the Covenanters. But, since these seem to have been a rather dangerous, armed mob of religious zealots, I am not sure I feel this to be a blight upon his character! I do sympathize with your views on religious freedom, but I would call this "keeping the peace" or "riot control". My point was that there were none of the brutalities against innocents often attributed to him. I greatly object to the comparisons with Glencoe (and with Nuremburg)!

[@gaconnochie]

@3tangle3 Mind to be fair Claverhouse didn't have much choice but stay loyal to James VII & II. As he was probably the chief henchman during the Killing Times and the persecution of the Presbyterian Covenanters then he would probably have been a marked man as Presbyterian control was reinstated in Scotland and those who had fled persecution returned. AFAIK Walter Scott invented the nickname Bonnie Dundee at a much later date but he was known as Bluidy Clavers in the south in his own time :-)

[@johnmelvin5804]

The covenanters were at times murderous thugs. But that was par for the course when you wound up the rabble.

[@BillDFC]

Agreed....and I'm a presbyterian! Scotland's liberty is more important.

[@RocaDeearCenjar]

Did they just say "Come sodom my horses?"

[@murdochmclennan3510]

They sing "Come SADDLE my horses."

[@gaconnochie]

@TheTraumarama2 When James lost his English power base and the Scottish parliament declared him a traitor and stripped him off his throne Graham refused to accept the decision so went off to raise an army. Could be viewed as principle but equally could be viewed as having no choice. Because he had been chief henchman during the Killing Times he was undoubtedly a marked man and would probably have been for the rope. Sorry but he is glamourised.

[@sandex3000]

Ha ha beatityatube, one can tell that you're a gadgy ned! A well, it was just a joke!

[@gaconnochie]

@TheTraumarama "A Graham never forgets." Seemingly Bluidy Clavers wished he could forget some of the atrocities he carried out against civilians during the religious persecution of Presbyterians. It supposedly kept him from sleeping soundly. Winning one battle in which you manage to get yourself killed doesn't make up for crimes against humanity. Both sides were thugs and bigots. We shouldn't over glamourise it!

[@gailforce]

Get a grip, get a life, get over the hate.

[@anniers7]

Disunion is simply a means for local politicians to expand their influence and job opportunities. As an American who loves Scotland, I implore you good people to not be taken in by this. The United Kingdom is stronger United.

[@GMMReviews]

Bonnie Dundee? HAHAHAHAHAH!?!?! Couldn't be more wrong :P

[@murdochmclennan3510]

Who says? He was a great commander.

[@donaldgraham6431]

@@murdochmclennan3510 He was that.

[@robsargent4]

He's the most appealing character I've come across from that period as well. Sadly, however, Charles II was not as loyal to the Great Montrose as Montrose had been to him & his father, although I'm sure Charles II felt he had no choice & was just dealing with the political reality that confronted him.

[@murdochmclennan3510]

robsargent4: The song is not about Montrose; it's about Claverhouse.

[@alexwilliamson1486]

Murdoch McLennan a very common mistake many people do! Nothing to do with Montrose..