Scots Wha Hae

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Scots Wha hae wi' Wallace Bled

"Scots Wha Hae" (

Scottish Gaelic: Brosnachadh Bhruis) is a patriotic song of Scotland written using both words of the Scots language and English, which served for centuries as an unofficial national anthem of the country, but has lately been largely supplanted by "Scotland the Brave" and "Flower of Scotland
".

Background

The lyrics were written by

Real McKenzies' punk rock rendition on their 1998 album Clash of the Tartans
.

The song was sent by Burns to his publisher,

Friends of the People Society, and was eventually sentenced to 14 years' transportation to the convict settlement at Botany Bay. Burns was aware that if he declared his republican
and radical sympathies openly, he could suffer the same fate.

When Burns notably agreed to let the

party song of the Scottish National Party. In the past, it was sung at the close of their annual national conference each year. The tune was adapted for military band as Marche des soldats de Robert Bruce by French army Chef de Musique Léonce Chomel, and recorded around 1910 in his Marches historiques, chants et chansons des soldats de France.[3] The tune is also featured in the fourth movement of the Scottish Fantasy, composed in 1880 by German composer Max Bruch
.

Lyrics

Original lyrics
Scots, wha hæ wi Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome tæ yer gory bed,
Or tæ victorie.
English translation
Scots, who have with Wallace bled,
Scots, whom Bruce has often led,
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victory.
Scottish Gaelic translation
Fheachd Alba, thug le Uallas buaidh,
'S tric fo Bhrus bha 'n cogadh cruaidh,
Fàilte dhuibh gu fois na h-uaigh,
No gu buaidh is sìth.
Now's the day, an now's the hour:
See the front o battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's power—
Chains and Slaverie.
Now's the day, and now's the hour:
See the front of battle lower (threaten),
See approach proud Edward's power—
Chains and slavery.
Seo an latha—an uair seo tha,
Feuch fo 'n cruaidh a-nuas mar sgàil,
Feachd na h-uaill fo Ionbhar dàn',
Dhèanamh thràillean dinn.
Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha will fill a coward's grave?
Wha sæ base as be a slave?
Let him turn an flee.
Who will be a traitor knave?
Who will fill a coward's grave?
Who's so base as be a slave?
Let him turn, and flee.
Cò 'na shloightear, feallta, fuar?
Cò 'na ghealtar dh'iarradh uaigh?
Cò 'na thràill fo shail luchd-fuath?
Clis bi bhuam fhir-chlith.
Wha, for Scotland's king and law,
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or Freeman fa,
Let him on wi me.
Who for Scotland's King and Law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand or freeman fall,
Let him follow me.
Cò às leth a Thìr, 's a Còir
Thairrneas stàillinn chruaidh 'na dhòrn?
Buaidh an àird, no bàs le glòir!
Lean a dheòin do Rìgh.
By Oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free.
By oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest veins
But they shall be free.
Air ar bruid fo shluagh neo-chaomh,
Air bhur n-àl an sàs san daors',
Tràighidh sinn ar fuil 's an raon,
Bheir sinn saors' d' ar linn.
Lay the proud usurpers low,
Tyrants fa in every foe,
Libertie's in every blow!—
Let us do or dee.
Lay the proud usurpers low,
Tyrants fall in every foe,
Liberty's in every blow!—
Let us do or die.
Sìos na coimhich bhorb gur bas!
Sreath gun ìochd—gach ceann thig 'bhàin,
Saorsa thig an lorg gach stràic.
Buaidh no bàs man till.

In popular culture

References

  1. ^ Murray Pittock, Poetry and Jacobite politics in eighteenth-century Britain and Ireland
  2. ^ "The Songs of Former Days". The New York Times. 6 November 1881.
  3. ^ Chomel, Léonce, Marches historiques, chants et chansons des soldats de France, 3 tomes, Musée de l’armée, 1912 (manuscrit).

External links