In honour of the just published Guardian poll (see next post below) which has the SNP/Yes Alliance sweeping the coming elections on May 7th in Scotland: today I am posting the legendary Dick Gaughan singing Robert Burns’ immortal song Scots Wha Hae. Written in 1793, Scots Wha Hae is an unofficial national anthem of Scotland. Burns conceived the lyrics as a speech given by Robert Bruce to his troops at Bannockburn; but as he wrote them, the French Revolution was in full swing, and also the radical lawyer Thomas Muir of Huntershill was being tried in Edinburgh for sedition in an attempt by the British government to tamp down the fires of revolution at home. Thomas Muir was sentenced by the court to fourteen years of transportation to the convict settlement of Botany Bay. Burns wrote of this song to his publisher George Thomson that he had been inspired to write it by Bruces glorious struggle for Freedom, associated with the glowing ideas of some other struggles of the same nature, not quite so ancient.’ It is set to the traditional Scottish tune Hey Tuttie Tatie which, according to tradition, was played by Bruces army at the Battle of Bannockburn. Today, Scots Wha Hae is the party song of the Scottish National Party, and is sung at the close of their annual national conference each year. The lyrics: Scots Wha Hae By Robert Burns Scots, wha hae wi Wallace bled, Scots, wham Bruce has aften led; Welcome to your gory bed, Or to victory! Nows the day, and nows the hour; See the front o battle lour; See approach proud Edwards power— Chains and slavery! Wha will be a traitor knave? Wha can fill a cowards grave! Wha sae base as be a slave? Let him turn and flee! Wha for Scotlands king and law Freedoms sword will strongly draw, Freeman stand, or freeman fa, Let him follow me! By oppressions woes and pains! By your sons in servile chains! We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free! Lay the proud usurpers low! Tyrants fall in every foe! Libertys in every blow!— Let us do or die! https://youtube/watch?v=qx8hEoJNVdM
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 01:59:28 +0000