Scotland the Brave
Encyclopedia
"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 parades at The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute
. In 2006, it was adopted as the regimental quick march of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
In the 1982
, 1986
, and in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, the Scottish national team
used it as its anthem prior to using "Flower of Scotland
".
song called Up, Fascists. However, the lyrics commonly sung today were written in around 1950 by the Scottish journalist
Cliff Hanley
for the singer Robert Wilson in an arrangement by Marion McClurg.
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...
.
Scotland the Brave is also the authorised pipe band
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
march
March (music)
A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John...
of The British Columbia Dragoons
The British Columbia Dragoons
The British Columbia Dragoons is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is based in Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton, British Columbia...
of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, and is played during the Pass in Review at Friday parades at The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
. In 2006, it was adopted as the regimental quick march of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
In the 1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
, and in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, the Scottish national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
used it as its anthem prior to using "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...
".
Lyrics
The tune probably first appeared around the turn of the 20th century, and at that time was sometimes known as Scotland the Brave. Probably the first set of lyrics set to the tune was a British Union of FascistsBritish Union of Fascists
The British Union was a political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1932 by Sir Oswald Mosley as the British Union of Fascists, in 1936 it changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists and then in 1937 to simply the British Union...
song called Up, Fascists. However, the lyrics commonly sung today were written in around 1950 by the Scottish journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Cliff Hanley
Cliff Hanley
Clifford Leonard Clark Hanley was a journalist, novelist, playwright and broadcaster from Glasgow in Scotland...
for the singer Robert Wilson in an arrangement by Marion McClurg.
| Scotland the Brave - Cliff Hanley lyrics |
|---|
Hark! When the night is falling Hear, Hear! the pipes are calling, Loudly and proudly calling, down through the glen. There where the hills are sleeping, Now feel the blood a-leaping, High as the spirits of the old Highland men. Chorus (Towering in gallant fame, Scotland my mountain hame, High may your proud standards gloriously wave, Land of my high endeavour, Land of the shining river, Land of my heart for ever, Scotland the brave.) Chorus High in the misty Highlands, Out by the purple islands, Brave are the hearts that beat beneath Scottish skies. Wild are the winds to meet you, Staunch are the friends that greet you, Kind as the love that shines from fair maidens' eyes. Chorus Far off in sunlit places, Sad are the Scottish faces, Yearning to feel the kiss of sweet Scottish rain. Where tropic skies are beaming, Love sets the heart a-dreaming, Longing and dreaming for the homeland again. Chorus |
There is another set of lyrics known as My Bonnie Lassie
| My Bonnie Lassie lyrics |
|---|
Drums in my heart are drummin, I hear the bagpipes hummin, My Bonnie Lassie's comin over the sea. My heart with her she's bringin, I hear the blue bells ringin, Soon we'll be highland flingin, My love and me. Chorus: I'll meet her at the shore, Playin the pipes for her, Dressed in a kilt and a tam o'shanter too. Drums in my heart are drummin, I hear the bagpipes hummin, My Bonnie Lassie's comin, comin to me, Somewhere a ship and crew, Sails o'er the ocean blue, Bringing, oh, bringing, My bonnie back to me. That's why the drums are drummin, That's why the pipes are hummin, My Bonnie Lassie's comin, comin to me. Chorus Sad are the lads she's leavin, Many a sigh they're heavin, Even the heather's grievin, cryin with dew. She's left her native highland, To come and live in my land, She'll love the folks who smile, And say, "how-de-do". Chorus |
There is also an alternate set of lyrics by John McDermott
John McDermott (singer)
John Charles McDermott is a Scottish-Canadian tenor best known for his rendering of the song "Danny Boy". Born in Glasgow, Scotland, John moved with his family to Willowdale, Ontario, Canada in 1965. Growing up in a musical family, his only formal musical training was at St...
Scotland Forever, sung to the same tune:
| John McDermott version lyrics |
|---|
Let Italy boast of her gay gilded waters, Her vines and her bowers and her soft sunny skies, Her sons drinking love from the eyes of her daughters, Where freedom expires amid softness and sighs. Scotland's blue mountains wild where hoary cliffs are piled, Towering in grandeur are dearer tae me, Land of the misty cloud land of the tempest loud, Land of the brave and proud land of the free. Enthroned on the peak of her own highland mountains, The spirit of Scotia reigns fearless and free, Her green tartan waving o'er blue rock and fountain, And proudly she sings looking over the sea. Here among my mountains wild I have serenely smiled, When armies and empires against me were hurled, Firm as my native rock I have withstood the shock, Of England, of Denmark, of Rome and the world. But see how proudly her war steeds are prancing, Deep groves of steel trodden down in their path, The eyes of my sons like their bright swords are glancing, Triumphantly riding through ruin and death. Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs, Deepeyed in gore is the green tartan's wave, Shivering are the ranks of steel dire is the horseman's wheel, Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave. Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs, Deepeyed in gore is the green tartan's wave, Shivering are the ranks of steel dire is the horseman's wheel, Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave, Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave. |
Unofficial national anthem
In June 2006, the song came in second in an online poll with more than 10,000 votes to determine the nation's favourite unofficial anthem, losing only to Flower of ScotlandFlower 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...
. The song was used to represent 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...
in the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
until it was replaced by Flower of Scotland from the 2010 games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
in Delhi onwards.
In popular culture
- The Dropkick MurphysDropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
song "Cadence to Arms" off their debut album Do or DieDo or DieDo or Die is an American rap trio originally from Chicago, Illinois, consisting of group members Belo Zero, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. The trio has sold more than 3 million albums. The group experienced mainstream success with the gold single "Po Pimp", Produced by The Legendary Traxster off of their...
is a reworking of Scotland the Brave's melody. - The song was among the entrance songs for Roddy PiperRoddy PiperRoderick George Toombs , better known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler and film actor who is currently signed to WWE. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his work with WWE...
during his time in the WWE