ca. 1688
| Tune: | Original |
| Lyrics: | Robert Ware, Thomas Wharton and Henry Wharton |
Ho, Brother Teague, dost hear de Degree,
Lilli Burlero Bullen a-la;
Dat we shall have a new Debittie,
Lilli Burlero Bullen a-la:
Lero, lero, lero, lero, Lilli burlero bullen a-la;
Lero, lero, lero, lero, Lilli burlero bullen a-la.
Ho, by my Shoul, it is a T–t,
Lilli &c.
And he will Cut all de English T–t,
Lilli &c.
Though, by my Shoul, de English do Prat,
Lilli &c.
De Laws on dare side, and Chreist knows what,
Lilli &c.
But if Dispence do come from de Pope,
Lilli &c.
Weel hang Magna Carto & demselves in a Rope,
Lilli &c.
And the good T–t to made a Lord,
Lilli &c.
And he with brave Lads is coming aboard.
Lilli &c.
Who all in France have taken a Swear.
Lilli &c.
Dat day will have no Protestant H–r,
Lilli &c.
Oh! but why does he stay behind?
Lilli &c.
Ho, by my Shoul, ’tis a Protestant Wind,
Lilli &c.
Now T–l is come ashore,
Lilli &c.
And we shall have Commissions gillore;
Lilli &c.
And he dat will not go to M–ss,
Lilli &c.
Shall turn out and look like an Ass,
Lilli &c.
Now, now de Hereticks all go down,
Lilli &c.
By Chreist and St Patrick the Nations our own,
Lilli &c.
Daniel Defoe famously said of this song that it ‘sang James II out of three kingdoms’. It was originally written in 1686 by three Englishmen (Robert Ware, Thomas Wharton and Henry Wharton) to discredit James’s Deputy in Ireland, the Catholic Earl of Tyrconnell, but in November 1688, following William of Orange’s invasion, it became an anthem for the English army, which deserted the Catholic king in favour of the Protestant William en masse. A ‘second part’ accompanied the riotous destruction of London’s ‘mass houses’ on 11 December.
| Cause: | Anti-Papist | Exclusionist |
| Theme: | Political Process | Rights |
| Addressed to: | Armed Forces | Regional Identity |
| Target of Protest: | The Ruler | Ethnic/National group |
| Proposal/Solution: | Armed Rebellion |
The song can be heard and more of its history discovered at the 100 Ballads website