"Flower of Scotland" (Scots: Flouer o Scotland, Scottish Gaelic: Flùr na h-Alba) 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 fulfil this role, along with the older "Scots Wha Hae", and "Scotland the Brave", amongst others. Roy Williamson of the folk group the Corries wrote both the lyrics and music for the song. The words refer to the victory of the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, over England's Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
Lyrics
The song was composed and is sung in English, typically with Scots pronunciation of a few words (e.g. "Tae" as opposed to "To").
| English
O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see Your like again, That fought and died for, Your wee bit Hill and Glen, And stood against him (against who?), Proud Edward's Army, And sent him homeward, To think again. The Hills are bare now, And Autumn leaves lie thick and still, O'er land that is lost now, Which those so dearly held, That stood against him (against who?), Proud Edward's Army, And sent him homeward, To think again. Those days are past now, And in the past they must remain, But we can still rise now, And be the nation again, That stood against him (against who?), Proud Edward's Army, And sent him homeward, To think again. | Scots
O Flouer o Scotland,
Whan will we see Yer like again, That focht an dee'd for, Yer wee bit Hill an Glen, An stuid agin him (agin ho?), Prood Edwart's Airmie, An sent him hamewart, Tae think again. The Hills is bare nou, An Autumn leafs Lies thick an still, Ower land that is tint nou, That thae sae dearlie held, That stuid agin him (agin ho?), Prood Edwart's Airmie, An sent him hamewart, Tae think again. Thir days is past nou, An in the past Thay maun bide, But we can aye rise nou, An be the naition again, That stuid agin him (agin ho?), Prood Edwart's Airmie, An sent him hamewart, Tae think again. | Scottish Gaelic
O Fhlùir na h-Alba,
cuin a chì sinn an seòrsa laoich a sheas gu bàs 'son am bileag feòir is fraoich, a sheas an aghaidh (an aghaidh cò?) feachd uailleil Iomhair 's a ruaig e dhachaidh air chaochladh smaoin? Na cnuic tha lomnochd 's tha duilleach Foghair mar bhrat air làr, am fearann caillte dan tug na seòid ud gràdh, a sheas an aghaidh (an aghaidh cò?) feachd uailleil Iomhair 's a ruaig e dhachaigh air chaochladh smaoin. Tha 'n eachdraidh dùinte ach air dìochuimhne chan fheum i bhith, is faodaidh sinn èirigh gu bhith nar Rìoghachd a-rìs a sheas an aghaidh (an aghaidh cò?) feachd uailleil Iomhair 's a ruaig e dhachaidh air chaochladh smaoin. |
Popular use
The song has been used as a National Anthem by the Scotland national rugby union team, ever since the winger, Billy Steele, encouraged his team-mates to sing it on the victorious Lionstour of South Africa in 1974. The song was adopted as the pre-game anthem during the deciding match of the 1990 Five Nations Championship between Scotland and England, which Scotland won 13–7 to win the Grand Slam. The Scottish Football Association adopted "Flower of Scotland" as its pre-game national anthem in 1997 although it was first used by them in 1993. Usually only the first and third verses are sung. At any home International Scotland Rugby union test match the first verse is accompanied by bagpipes followed by the third verse unaccompanied by any instrument.
When sung at sporting events, crowds will often call back after certain lines: after the words "and stood against him", "England" or "Gainst who?" may be heard.
The song was sung at boxer Jim Watt's fights.
The song was used as the victory anthem of Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 replacing "Scotland the Brave". This trend continued to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where it was again Team Scotland's anthem and was sung following a Scottish first place. (notably it was sung 4 times when Team Scotland won 4 gold medals in the opening day). This usage continued at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The tune was originally composed on the Northumbrian smallpipes, which play in D and have the benefit of keys on the chanter to achieve a greater range of notes.
Ewan McGregor performed the song in Magadan in Russia in 2004 for the filming of the TV show Long Way Round.
In July 2006, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted an online poll (publicised by Reporting Scotland) in which voters could choose a national anthem from one of five candidates. 10,000 people took part in the poll in which Flower of Scotland came out the winner. The results were as follows:
| Tune | Votes (%) |
|---|---|
| Flower of Scotland | 41% |
| Scotland the Brave | 29% |
| Highland Cathedral | 16% |
| Is There for Honest Poverty | 8% |
| Scots Wha Hae | 6% |
Scottish pirate metal band Alestorm have performed a cover of it live and recorded it, which is on their album Captain Morgan's Revenge. In addition, the Canadian Scottish-influenced Celtic Punk band The Real McKenzies have included the song on the album "Loch'd & Loaded" as well a staple in their live performance among many other traditional Scottish ballads.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, the song was sung at Edinburgh Castle by 53 Scottish children selected from schools across Scotland.
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