Will Ye No Come Back Again?

DESCRIPTION: "Bonnie Charlie's noo awa, Safely o'er the friendly main, Mony a hairt will brak' in twa, Should he no come back again. Will ye no come back again (x2), Better lo'ed ye cannae be...." The singer recalls Prince Charlie's escape and hopes he'll return
AUTHOR: Words: probably Carolina Oliphaunt, Lady Nairne (1766-1845)
EARLIEST DATE:
KEYWORDS: Jacobite exile return
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1720-1788 - Life of Charles Edward Stuart, "Bonnie Prince Charlie"
1722-1790 - Life of Flora MacDonald
1745-1746 - '45 Jacobite rebellion led by Bonnie Prince Charlie
Apr 16, 1746 - Battle of Culloden. The Jacobite rebellion is crushed, most of the Highlanders slain, and Charlie forced to flee for his life.
Jun 28-29, 1746 - Aided by Flora MacDonald, and dressed as her maidservant, Charles flees from North Uist to Skye in the Hebrides.
Sep 20, 1746 - Charles finally escapes to France
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Tobitt-TheDittyBag, p. 144, "Will Ye No Come Back Again!" (1 short text, 1 tune)
Tobitt-YoursForASong, p. 34, "Will Ye No Come Back Again" (1 short text, 1 tune)
DT. WILLYENO*
ADDITIONAL: Kenneth Norman MacDonald, "The Gesto Collection of Highland Music," 1895 (reprinted 1997 by Llanerch Publishers), p. 27, "Will Ye No Come Back Again" (1 tune)
Roud #24347
NOTES [44 words]: Although this is now one of Scotland's most beloved songs of farewell, its hold on tradition seems surprisingly weak. I can locate only two traditional collections, neither from Scotland and neither firm enough to put in either the "Earliest Date" or "Found In" field.
Last updated in version 6.3
File: DTwillye

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