The White Cockade
The white cockade was a rosette of ribbon worn on the bonnet
or, in the case of the ladies, pinned on the bodice of a gown.
It was the visible symbol of the Jacobites.
The loyalists or Hanoverians wore the black cockade.
My love was born in Aberdeen,
The bonniest lad that e’er was seen,
But now he makes our hearts fu’ sad,
He takes the field wi’ his White Cockade.
O he’s a ranting, roving lad,
He is a brisk and bonny lad,
Betide what may, I will be wed,
And follow the boy wi’ the White Cockade.
I’ll sell my rock, my reel, my tow,
My gude gray mare and hawkit cow;
To buy mysel a tartan plaid,
To follow the boy wi’ the White Cockade.
O he’s a ranting, roving lad, &c.
This Jacobite song was first published in David Herd’s
Collection of Scottish Songs and Ballads
of 1776.
The song as it appears in
The Scots Musical Museum
, Volume 3, of 1790,
which is quoted above was, according to William Stenhouse, “retouched by Burns”.
Robert Chambers in
Scottish Songs Prior to Burns
provided the more complete version of the song
as it appeared in James Hogg’s
The Jacobite Relics of Scotland
, Volume 2.
My love was born in Aberdeen,
The bonniest lad that e’er was seen,
But now he maks my heart fu’ sad,
He’s ta’en the field wi’ his white cockade.
O he’s a rantin’ rovin’ blade,
O he’s a brisk and bonnie lad,
Betide what may, my heart is glad
To see my lad wi’ his white cockade.
I’ll sell my rock, I’ll sell my reel,
My rippling-kaim and spinning wheel,
To buy my lad a tartan plaid,
A braid sword, durk, and a white cockade.
I’ll sell my rokelay and my tow,
My guid gray mare and hackit cow,
That every loyal Buchan lad,
May tak’ the field wi’ his white cockade.
From “Scotland Dances”, by Eugenia (Jeannie) Callander Sharp
(Used by permission.)