Scots, wha hae
wi' Wallace bled
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victory!
Now's the day an' now's the hour
See the front of battle lour
See approach proud Edward's pow'r
Chains and slavery!
Wha would be a
traitor knave?
Wha would fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!
Wha for Scotland's king an' law
Freedom's sword would strongly draw
Freeman stand and freeman fa'
Let him on wi' me!
By oppression's
woes and pains
By your sons in servile chains
We will drain our dearest veins
But they shall be free.
Lay the proud userpers low!
Tyrants fall in ev'ry foe
Liberty's in every blow
Let us do or dee!
Robert Burns 1759-1796
Burns wrote this poem in 1793, inspired by the story of Robert Bruce's victory over Edward II at Bannockburn. The poem is subtitled "Bruce's Address Before Bannockburn", this is supposedly Burns' idea of what Robert Bruce was likely to have said to the Scots army waiting the arrival of the English at Bannockburn, 1314. Scots, Wha Hae is a song of freedom for Scotland that was still relevant in Burn's time. The song was written at a time when the French Republic had declared war on Britain. Many Scots were still bitter about the Union of the Scottish and English Parliaments and opposed the British Government. Because of the war, it was a dangerous time to voice views about independence as it could lead to imprisonment.
In recent years the song has been adopted by the Scottish National Party and is sung at Party Conferences.
If you are using Netscape to play the tune click on the play button.
