The history and politics of the English protest song

1745 (est.)

From Caledonia's Loyal Lands…

Tune: Over the Hills and Far Away
Lyrics: Unknown

From Caledonia’s Loyal Lands
Where justice uncontrouled commands,
The Loyal Clans in honour’s cause,
Came to retrieve our antient Laws
Guarded by truth,Great Honours Guide,
With royal Charles, Minerva’s pride:
They came with freedom hand in hand,
And over the Hills and far away.
Over the Hills, &c.

To Baulk their force and stop their way
Duke Billy’s sent to die or stray,
Whilst M[arshal] Wade ’midst all his Schemes
Sleeping, of conquest only dreams;
The Bishops too, with reverend looks
Turn redcoats now, & damn their Books,
Lawn sleeves laid by, their prayers forgot,
And all their cry’s a Popish Plot:
Over the Hills, &c.

Britons be firm in Britain’s cause,
Assert your right, support your Laws,
Defend the truth, Great Charles obey,
And usurpation drive away.
Then Sons of War with martial flame,
You’ll bravely merit lasting fame,
Great Charles will Britain’s scepter sway
And Hanoverians rue the Day,
Over the Hills, &c.

Lyrics

Whoever first transcribed this Jacobite paean mixed up the lines of the first verse, one of three celebrating the rising of ‘loyal clans’, contrasting virtues of ‘honour’, ‘ancient laws’, and ‘freedom’, with Hanoverian ‘schemes’. Its stirring tune is especially apt in the context of the Scotsmen the (presumably) English author welcomes marching across the border. Special ignominy is reserved for the Hanoverian Commander-in-Chief, Marshal Wade, who is conversely praised in contemporary versions of ‘God Save the King’.

Cause: Jacobite
Theme: Political Process | War and Peace
Addressed to: Britons
Target of Protest: The Ruler | Political Faction
Proposal/Solution: Armed Rebellion | Organisation