The Electors lament

"Will Ye No Come Back Again"

Our worthy Member's ta'en the thraw,
Because we cuffed the Chinamen;
But wily Will, an' ither twa
Hae gane to coax him back again.
Will ye no come back again?
Will ye no come back again?
Better frien's we'll be wi' Yeh,
Will ye no come back again?

Our Provost's periods thrilled the thrang,
Within yon Inn beside the Den,
For aye the burden o' his sang,
Was will ye no come back again?
Will ye no come back again?
Will ye no come back again?
The Provost, neist, will be M.P.,
Wou'd ye just now come back again.

Your Cote Celestial, to be sure,
Some for the moment did bewail;
But yet we deemed your conscience pure,
Although ye stuck to Cobden's tail.
Will ye no come back again?
Will ye no come back again?
Your independent frien's forgie-
They'll gladly greet you back again.

The warld kens ye've ships at sea,
A' copper bottomed like oursel's;
Nor for their freights ye care a flea,
Or China Silks, or Yorkshire bales.
Will ye no come back again?
Will ye no come back again?
Ye viewed our weal we' single e'e,
Will ye no come back again?

Our dainty Dean is no far wrang,
'Bout Cant(on) things we little ken;
But we'll believe that Pee-Twa Shang
Means green cheese until ye explain.
Will ye no come back again?
Will ye no come back again?
We'll drown our diff'rences in tea,
Will ye no come back again?

'Tis true a TODD is in the fauld,
And SYKES this day makes his Salaam;
A chiel's amang us, wha, for "Auld
Langsyne," to our respect lays claim.
Will ye no come back again?
Will ye no come back again?
Better lo'ed ye couldna be,
Were ye among the Chinamen.

We lang to meet the doughty three,
Wha gaed-your favour to regain-
Our granny dreamed yestreen that ye,
Or Sykes, cam' wi' them by the train.
If ye'll no come back again,
Should ye no come back again,
Ye needna ferlie then should we,
For you, send FARLEY back again!

Grace Banks
David Hunter
Susan Kirkwood
Shirley Watt
Eric White

This song is addressed to James William Barclay (1833-1907), who represented the 1st ward in Aberdeen town council in from 1864-1867 and the 3rd ward in 1868 to 1871. He was a shipowner, which is referred to in the fourth verse. Barclay stood as a second, but unsuccessful Liberal candidate in the 1872 Aberdeen by-election, caused by the death of the sitting MP, Colonel Sykes (referred to in the last verse). John Farley Leith (referred to in the final line, also a Liberal, was successful. Barclay became MP for Forfarshire in 1873.