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Dance The White Cockade 7109

Also known as “The White Cockup” (unofficial).

Reel · 32 bars · 3 couples · Longwise - 4   (Progression: 213)

Devised by
John Preston (18C) (1797)
Intensity
888 800 804 880 = 62% (1 turn), 47% (whole dance)
Formations
Steps
  • Pas-de-Basque, Skip-Change, Slip-Step
Published in
Recommended Music
Extra Info
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.

The White Cockade 3/4L · R32
1–
1c+2c+3c set and cross RH ; repeat
9–
1c lead down the middle ; and up, staying in the middle
17–
1c long cast to 2pl (2c up) ; 1c+3c circle4 L
25–
2c+1c R&L.
The White Cockade 3/4L · R32
1-8
1s+2s+3s set & cross RH, set & cross back RH
9-16
1s lead down the middle for 4 bars & back to top, remaining in centre facing up
17-24
1s cast (slow) to 2nd place on own sides (4 bars) & circle 4H round to the left with 3s
25-32
2s+1s dance R&L. 2 1 3

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Added on: 2019-09-17 (Murrough Landon)
Quality: Good

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Gleneagles SCD Club, 2022 Bridge Festival (West Vancouver)

Added on: 2022-06-13 (Murrough Landon)
Quality: Good

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Auld Comhlan, Krakow, Poland, 2022

Added on: 2022-02-03 (Murrough Landon)
Quality: Good

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Miltonduff, 2023

Added on: 2023-07-22 (Murrough Landon)
Quality: Reasonable

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Added on: 2012-12-17 (YouTube Automatic Downloader)
Quality: Reasonable

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Danced "once and to the bottom" in a …

Added on: 2015-12-08 (Truus de Ceuster)
Quality: Reasonable

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Added on: 2012-12-17 (YouTube Automatic Downloader)
Quality: Informal/Social (RSCDS)

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"The White Cockade" is a 32 bar reel …

Added on: 2018-10-02 (YouTube Automatic Downloader)
Quality: Animation

SCDDB User Ratings

4 stars average (2 votes)
. 1 vote (50%)
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. 1 vote (50%)
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This dance ranks 274th out of 1388 rated dances in the database. (More info.)

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