Flower of Scotland

"Flower of Scotland"
Song by The Corries
Released	1965
Writer	Roy Williamson
Composer	Roy Williamson

Flower of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Flùr na h-Alba, Scots: Flouer o Scotland) is a Scottish song, used frequently at special occasions and sporting events. Officially, the National Anthem in Scotland is that of the United Kingdom - God Save the Queen. However, for many years a variety of songs have been used as unofficial anthems at events that were not matters of state, or which had a definite Scottish flavour. In recent years Flower of Scotland has become a kind of unofficial official national anthem, especially at sporting events., along with the older Scots Wha Hae, Scotland the Brave and Highland Cathedral. It was written by Roy Williamson of the folk group The Corries, and presented in 1967,^[1] and refers to the victory of the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, over England's Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

Lyrics

English 1. O Flower of Scotland, When will we see your like again That fought and died for Your wee bit hill and glen. And stood against him, Proud Edward's army, And sent him homeward To think again. 2. The hills are bare now, And autumn leaves lie thick and still O'er land that is lost now, Which those so dearly held That stood against him, Proud Edward's army And sent him homeward To think again. 3. Those days are past now And in the past they must remain But we can still rise now And be the nation again! That stood against him Proud Edward's army And sent him homeward To think again. 4. O Flower of Scotland, When will we see your like again That fought and died for Your wee bit hill and glen. And stood against him, Proud Edward's army, And sent him homeward To think again.

Scots 1. O Flouer o Scotland, Whan will we see Your like again, That focht and dee'd for, Your wee bit Hill an Glen, An stuid agin him, Prood Edward's Airmy, An sent him hamewart, Tae think again. 2. The Hills is bare nou, An Autumn leafs Lies thick an still, Ower land that is lost nou, That thae sae dearly held, That stuid agin him, Prood Edward's Airmy, An sent him hamewart, Tae think again. 3. Thir days is past nou, An in the past They maun remain, But we can aye rise nou, An be the nation again, That stuid agin him, Prood Edward's Airmy, An sent him hamewart, Tae think again. 4. O Flouer o Scotland, Whan will we see Your like again, That focht an dee'd for, Your wee bit Hill an Glen, An stuid agin him, Prood Edward's Airmy, An sent him hamewart, Tae think again.

Scottish Gaelic 1. O Fhlùir na h-Alba, cuin a chì sinn an seòrsa laoich a sheas gu bàs 'son am bileag feòir is fraoich, a sheas an aghaidh feachd uailleil Iomhair 's a ruaig e dhachaidh air chaochladh smaoin? 2. Na cnuic tha lomnochd 's tha duilleach Foghair mar bhrat air làr, am fearann caillte dan tug na seòid ud gràdh, a sheas an aghaidh feachd uailleil Iomhair 's a ruaig e dhachaigh air chaochladh smaoin. 3. Tha 'n eachdraidh dùinte ach air dìochuimhne chan fheum i bhith, is faodaidh sinn èirigh gu bhith nar Rìoghachd a-rìs a sheas an aghaidh feachd uailleil Iomhair 's a ruaig e dhachaidh air chaochladh smaoin. 4. O Fhlùir na h-Alba, cuin a chì sinn an seòrsa laoich a sheas gu bàs 'son am bileag feòir is fraoich, a sheas an aghaidh feachd uailleil Iomhair 's a ruaig e dhachaidh air chaochladh smaoin?

Popular use

The song has been used by as a National Anthem by the Scotland national rugby union team, ever since the winger, Billy Steele, encouraged his team-mates to sing it on the victorious Lions tour of South Africa in 1974.^[2] The song was adopted as the pre-game anthem during the deciding match of the 1990 Five Nations Championship between Scotland and England, which Scotland won 13–7 to win the Grand Slam.^[3] The Scottish Football Association adopted "Flower of Scotland" as its pre-game national anthem in 1997^[4] although it was first used by them in 1993,^{[citation needed]}. Usually only the first and third verses are sung.^[5] The song was used as the victory anthem of Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 replacing Scotland the Brave.^[6]

The tune was originally composed on the Northumbrian smallpipes,^{[citation needed]} which play in D and have the benefit of keys on the chanter to achieve a greater range of notes.

Ewan McGregor performed the song in Magadan in 2004 for the filming of the TV show Long Way Round journey.

In July 2006, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted an online poll (publicised by Reporting Scotland) in which voters could choose a national anthem from one of five candidates.^[7] 10,000 people took part in the poll in which Flower of Scotland came out the winner. The results were as follows:

Tune	Votes (%)
Flower of Scotland	41%
Scotland the Brave	29%
Highland Cathedral	16%
Is There for Honest Poverty	7%
Scots Wha Hae	6%

Scottish folk metal band Alestorm have performed a cover of it live and recorded it, which is on their album Captain Morgan's Revenge. In addition, the Canadian Scottish-influenced Celtic Punk band The Real McKenzies have included the song on the album "Loch'd & Loaded" as well a staple in their live performance among many other traditional Scottish ballads.

A version of this song entitled "Twigg of Scotland" is sung by supporters of Shamrock Rovers, an Irish football team, in tribute to their Scottish player, Gary Twigg.

See also

• Amhrán na bhFiann
• Auld lang syne
• Cwm Rhondda
• Sosban Fach
• Ireland's Call
• The Fields of Athenry
• Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
• La Marseillaise
• Waltzing Matilda
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

References

1. ^ The Corries website - (visited 28 August 2007)
2. ^ SONGS OF THE SIX NATIONS
3. ^ "The Perfect Rugby Anthem - Flower of Scotland!" WalesOnline, 7 February 2009 (visited 26 May 2011)
4. ^ BBC Sport Academy - (visited 16 December 2009)
5. ^ Match vs Liechtenstein
6. ^ "Games team picks new Scots anthem". BBC News. 9 January 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8449939.stm. 
7. ^ "Flower of Scotland is first choice in RSNO anthem poll". heraldscotland. 03-07-2006. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/flower-of-scotland-is-first-choice-in-rsno-anthem-poll-1.15847. Retrieved 5 February 2011. 

External links

• Flower of Scotland – The website "Cantaria" has a page dedicated to the song, featuring the lyrics and an MP3 file of the song sung by Wild Mountain Thyme.
• The Flower of Scotland – The website "Modern History Sourcebook" also has a page on the song, featuring midi files.