O Kenmore's on & awa, Willie;
An Kenmore's lord's the ae best bravest lord
That ever Galloway saw, Willie. ----
O Kenmore's rais'd a band, Willie,
O Kenmore's rais'd a band, Willie;
There's ne'er a heart that
Success to Kenmore's band, Willie,
Success to Kenmure's band, Willie!
There's ne er no a heart that fears a Whig,
That rides by Kenmore's hand, Willie. ----
Here's Kenmore's health in wine, Willie,
Here's Kenmore's health in wine, Willie!
There ne'er a coward o' Kenmore's blude,
Nor yet o' Gordon's line, Willie. ----
O Kenmore's lads are men, Willie,
O Kenmore's lads are men, Willie;
Their hearts & swords are metal true,
And that their faes shall ken, Willie. ----
They'll live, or die, wi' fame, Willie,
They'll live, or die wi' fame, Willie;
But soon wi' sounding victorie
May Kenmore's Lord come hame, Willie!
Here's, him that's far awa, Willie!
Here's, him that far awa, Willie!
And here's, the flower, the bony, sweet flower,
The rose that's like the snaw, Willie!!!
__________
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/174
- Alt. number
- 3.6164.a
- Date
- 20 February 1793
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/174
- Alt. number
- 3.6164.a
- Date
- 20 February 1793
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
Description
O Kenmore's on and awa, Willie. Part of folio.
Robert Burns had a romantic attachment to the Jacobite cause and the struggle of the Stuarts, who claimed the British throne. James VII was deposed in 1688 in favour of his sister Mary, married to William of Orange, and he was behind two unsuccessful uprisings in 1715 and 1745.
Firstly, success is wished on Kenmure and his band, then the bravery of Kenmure and his men is celebrated and their health drunk. The hope is that Kenmore would soon be home 'sounding victorie', but he was to be executed for his part in the rebellion. The song consists of 5 four line verses and a chorus, to be played 'slowish, but with spirit'.
The song is sung to Willie, while Kenmure is far away fighting for the cause. Firstly, success is wished on Kenmure and his band, then the bravery of Kenmure and his men is celebrated and their health drunk. The hope is that Kenmore would soon be home "sounding victorie", but he was to be executed for his part in the rebellion. The song consists of 5 four line verses and a chorus, to be played "slowish, but with spirit". This song praises Viscount Gordon of Kenmure, who led the Jacobite troops in the South of Scotland in 1715. The white cockade or white rose was the symbol of the Jacobites.
On Robert Burns' first tour of Galloway, he and his friend John Syme spent three days at Kenmure Castle in July/August of 1793.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- O Kenmore's on and awa, Willie