Highland Cathedral is a popular melody for the great highland bagpipe

Great Highland Bagpipe

The Great Highland Bagpipe is a type of bagpipe native to Scotland. It has achieved widespread recognition through its usage in the British military and in pipe bands throughout the world. It is closely related to the Great Irish Warpipes....

.

This melody was composed by German musicians Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb in 1982 for a Highland games

Highland games

Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...

 held in Germany. It has been proposed as the Scottish 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...

 to replace unofficial anthems Scotland 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...

 and/or Flower of Scotland

Flower of Scotland

Flower of Scotland is a Scottish song, used frequently at special occasions and sporting events. Although there is no official national anthem of Scotland, Flower of Scotland is one of a number of songs which unofficially fulfil this role, along with the older Scots Wha Hae, Scotland the Brave...

. It has subsequently undergone various orchestrations and had lyrics added in English and in Scottish Gaelic.

The tune was the Royal Hong Kong Police Anthem under British rule which ended in 1997. It was played at a ceremonial lowering of the Governor's flag

Governor of Hong Kong

The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...

 at Chris Patten

Chris Patten

Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC , is the last Governor of British Hong Kong, a former British Conservative politician, and the current chairman of the BBC Trust....

's residence, Government House

Government House, Hong Kong

Government House , located on Government Hill in the Central District of Hong Kong Island, is the official residence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong...

 on the last day of British rule.
Highland Cathedral is Chris Patten's favourite pipe tune as said by himself on a BBC Asia Today programme. It is also a popular wedding song. The tune is played before all Scottish international rugby matches at Murrayfield in Scotland.

Version 1

There is a land far from this distant shore

Where heather grows and Highland eagles soar

There is a land that will live ever more

Deep in my heart, my Bonnie Scotland

Though I serve so far away

I still see your streams, cities and dreams

I can't wait until the day

When I'll come home once more

And so Lord keep me from the harm of war

Through all its dangers and the battle's roar

Keep me safe until I'm home once more

Home to my own in Bonnie Scotland

Version 2

Land of our fathers, we will always be

Faithful and loyal to our own country

In times of danger, we will set you free

Lead you to glory and to victory

Hail, Caledonia, to our ancient prayer

In this Highland Cathedral, let our standards, bear

Joining, together, with one dream to share

God bless the people of this land so fair

Chorus:

Gone is the past, let us start a new

Let this hope of peace, always remain

Spirit of Scotia, be strong and true

Then your children will smile again.

Rise, Caledonia, let your voices ring

In this Highland Cathedral of our God and King

Whom, joy and liberty, to all, will bring

Come; let your heart, with love and courage, sing

Chorus:

Lonely the exile, o'er distant seas,

The home of their birth, gone from their eyes.

Bring back their souls o'er the ocean breeze

To the land where their fathers lie.

External links

• http://www.morgle.com/highlandcathedral.htm
• http://www.highlandcathedral.com
• http://www.kingstownscottishpipeband.co.uk/pages/bob_small.htm