A question for Alan Brooks or others about song lyrics

[Joachim Kettner]

Cam ye o' frae France

Alan, Which language is this and what does it mean?
The song seems to be an English or Irish traditional.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvnvoe-jVQ4

[Ken Pippus]

Looks Gaelic.

KP

[Archie Nicol R.I.P.]

Come you over from France?

Arch.

[Manfred Schall]

Hi Joachim,

I guess it's Gaelic.
Steeleye Span had some songs in that language.
I like that stuff.

Best,
Manfred

[Glenn Uhler]

It's either Gaelic, or archaeic Nicolish!

[Archie Nicol R.I.P.]

It sounds like an old Scottish dialect. Lyrics can be found on Google. The link refused to be copied and pasted for me.

Arch.

[Joachim Kettner]

Thanks for your replies!
I also know a version of this song by Scottish singer Maggie Reilly.

[LJ Eiffert]

Sounds like a Basque tune to me! Uncle Leo J.Eiffert jr.

[Tony Glassman]

http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/songs/texts/camfranc.html

[Joachim Kettner]

Here's a radioplay of Sir Walter Scott's "Rob Roy" from BBC Radio:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lknrs

I understand as good as nothing, but it may be interesting for native speakers.

[Archie Nicol R.I.P.]

It's auld Scots there ma laddie. Nae biddy speaks like yon onymare. Don't you know. What, what?

Arch.

[Donny Hinson]

I'd guess it's Scottish, likely meaning: "You came from France"

[Alan Brookes]

It's a Scottish dialect of English, as Archie said, "Came you over from France?"

It's a misnomer to call any language Scottish, unless you're referring to the language of the Ancient Scots, which would be Gaelic.

English (Anglisc)is the language of the Angles, one of the West Germanic tribes who settled in what is now England and most of Scotland during the 5th to 10th centuries. Strictly speaking, Old English had four distinct dialects: Mercian, West Saxon, East Saxon and Northumbrian. The dialects spoken in Scotland are Northumbrian (North of the River Humber) although nowadays the term Northumbrian is only used for the dialects of the counties of Northumberland and Cumberland.

[Archie Nicol R.I.P.]

`The dialects spoken in Scotland are Northumbrian `.
...and Cumbrian...and Irish...and most of all? Modern Scots. WTF this has to do with music, I do know. And so do you, Alan.

Arch.

[Joachim Kettner]

Another version, with the lyrics printed out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB3Cs4t1c1s

belyve=quickly;
blade=a person of weak, soft constitution from rapid overgrowth;
bonny woman=a woman of loose character;
braid=broad;
brawly=well;
claith=cloth;
gane=gone;
gin=if, whether;
goosie=diminutive of goose, derisive nickname for the King's mistress;
ha's and mailins=houses and farmlands;
hurdie=buttock;
kittle housie=brothel;
linkin=tripping along;
Lunnon=London;
niffer=haggle or exchange;
tint=lost;
wab=web (or length) of cloth)

[Alan Brookes]

`...WTF this has to do with music, I do know. And so do you, Alan.

I'm just answering the question, Archie.
Knowing what a pious, devout man you, are, Archie, I'm assuming WTF is an abbreviation for "With Temperence and Fidelity."

[Joachim Kettner]

It has to do with music as far as it's discussing the lyrics for a song wise guys

[Archie Nicol R.I.P.]

Sorry Joachim. Alan and I enjoy pulling each others virtual plonkers.

Arch.

[Alan Brookes]

Archie and I are two of a kind. Invoking our participation is like asking the Marx Brothers to show up at your Christening.

[Ron Page]

In any case, a very enjoyable thread to read; entertaining to me.

[Jim Cohen]

Archie and I are two of a kind. Invoking our participation is like asking the Marx Brothers to show up at your Christening.

That's one of the funniest lines I've ever read on the Forum.

[John Mulligan]

here's another link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cam_Ye_O'er_Frae_France