Freedom Come-All-Ye
Encyclopedia
"Freedom Come-All-Ye" is a song written by Hamish Henderson
, the Scottish
poet, songwriter, and intellectual. It is written in the Scots Language
. "Freedom Come-All-Ye", one of Henderson's most important songs, gives a non-romantic, revisionist view of the role of the Scots in the world at the time it was written. It describes a wind of change blowing through Scotland and the world at large, sweeping away exploitation and imperialism. It renounces the tradition of the Scottish soldier both as imperial cannon-fodder and colonial oppressor, and ends with a vision of a future global society which is multiracial and just.
The song was written in 1960, to an adaptation of the First World War pipe march "The Bloody Fields of Flanders" composed by John McLellan DCM (Dunoon), which Henderson first heard played on the Anzio
beachhead. The lyrics were written following a visit and discussions with Ken Goldstein, an American researcher at the School of Scottish Studies, who had enjoyed Henderson's rendition of the tune.
It was subsequently adopted by Glasgow Peace Marchers CND demonstrators, and the anti-Polaris
campaign. A product of the Scottish Folk revival, and originally a sixties protest
song, it is still popular in Scotland
and overseas. Henderson described it as "expressing my hopes for Scotland, and for the survival of humanity on this beleaguered planet."
It is viewed by many as Scotland's 'alternative' national anthem
(although there is no 'official' Scottish anthem). However, Henderson never wanted it to become as he felt that part of its strength lies in the fact that it is an alternative, an "International Anthem".
(not misspelled words).
The phrase "come aa ye" is the "come all ye" of the title. Some words are similar (blaws, mak, tak, sailin, blume for: blows, make, take, sailing, bloom). However, other words are more obscure (owre, nae, frae, tae, thae, an, yer, thair, doun, wi, merch, mair, hoos for: over, no, from, to, thy, and, your, their, down, with, march, more, house).
Hamish Henderson
Hamish Scott Henderson, was a Scottish poet, songwriter, soldier, and intellectual....
, the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
poet, songwriter, and intellectual. It is written in the Scots Language
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
. "Freedom Come-All-Ye", one of Henderson's most important songs, gives a non-romantic, revisionist view of the role of the Scots in the world at the time it was written. It describes a wind of change blowing through Scotland and the world at large, sweeping away exploitation and imperialism. It renounces the tradition of the Scottish soldier both as imperial cannon-fodder and colonial oppressor, and ends with a vision of a future global society which is multiracial and just.
The song was written in 1960, to an adaptation of the First World War pipe march "The Bloody Fields of Flanders" composed by John McLellan DCM (Dunoon), which Henderson first heard played on the Anzio
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
beachhead. The lyrics were written following a visit and discussions with Ken Goldstein, an American researcher at the School of Scottish Studies, who had enjoyed Henderson's rendition of the tune.
It was subsequently adopted by Glasgow Peace Marchers CND demonstrators, and the anti-Polaris
Polaris
Polaris |Alpha]] Ursae Minoris, commonly North Star or Pole Star, also Lodestar) is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. It is very close to the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star....
campaign. A product of the Scottish Folk revival, and originally a sixties protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
song, it is still popular in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and overseas. Henderson described it as "expressing my hopes for Scotland, and for the survival of humanity on this beleaguered planet."
It is viewed by many as Scotland's 'alternative' national anthem
National Anthem of Scotland
There is no official national anthem of Scotland. However, a number of songs are used as de facto Scottish anthems, most notably Flower of Scotland and Scotland the Brave...
(although there is no 'official' Scottish anthem). However, Henderson never wanted it to become as he felt that part of its strength lies in the fact that it is an alternative, an "International Anthem".
Lyrics
The lyrics are written in the Scots languageScots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
(not misspelled words).
- Roch the wind in the clear day's dawin
- Blaws the cloods heilster-gowdie owre the bay
- But there's mair nor a roch wind blawin
- Thro the Great GlenGreat GlenThe Great Glen , also known as Glen Albyn or Glen More is a series of glens in Scotland running 100 kilometres from Inverness on the Moray Firth, to Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe.The Great Glen follows a large geological fault known as the Great Glen Fault...
o the warld the day - It's a thocht that wad gar oor rottans
- Aa thae rogues that gang gallus fresh an gay
- Tak the road an seek ither loanins
- Wi thair ill-ploys tae sport an play
- Nae mair will our bonnie callants
- Merch tae war when oor braggarts crousely craw
- Nor wee weans frae pitheid an clachan
- Mourn the ships sailin doun the Broomielaw
- Broken faimlies in lands we've hairriet
- Will curse 'Scotlan the Brave'Scotland the Brave"Scotland the Brave" is a Scottish patriotic song. It was one of several songs considered an unofficial national anthem of Scotland.Scotland the Brave is also the authorised pipe band march of The British Columbia Dragoons of the Canadian Forces, and is played during the Pass in Review at Friday...
nae mair, nae mair - Black an white ane-til-ither mairriet
- Mak the vile barracks o thair maisters bare
- Sae come aa ye at hame wi freedom
- Never heed whit the houdies croak for Doom
- In yer hoos aa the bairns o Adam
- Will find breid, barley-bree an paintit rooms
- When MacleanJohn Maclean MAJohn Maclean MA was a Scottish schoolteacher and revolutionary socialist. He is primarily known as a Marxist educator and notable for his outspoken opposition to the First World War....
meets wi's friens in SpringburnSpringburnSpringburn is an inner city district in the north of the Scottish city of Glasgow, home to various working and middle-class households.Springburn developed from a small rural hamlet at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Its industrial expansion began with the establishment of a chemical... - Aa thae roses an geans will turn tae blume
- An yon black boy frae yont NyangaNyanga, Cape TownNyanga is a township in Cape Town, South Africa. Its name in Xhosa means ‘moon’ and it is one of the oldest black townships in Cape Town. It was established as a result of the migrant labor system. In the early fifties black migrants were forced to settle in Nyanga as Langa became too small. ...
- Dings the fell gallows o the burghers doun.
The phrase "come aa ye" is the "come all ye" of the title. Some words are similar (blaws, mak, tak, sailin, blume for: blows, make, take, sailing, bloom). However, other words are more obscure (owre, nae, frae, tae, thae, an, yer, thair, doun, wi, merch, mair, hoos for: over, no, from, to, thy, and, your, their, down, with, march, more, house).
External links
- http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/songs/texts/freecaye.htmlNotes on the song by Dick GaughanDick GaughanRichard Peter Gaughan usually known as Dick Gaughan is a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs.-Early years:...
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