Scots Wha Hae

Frae Wikipedia

Scots Wha Hae is a poem/ sang at wis written bi Robert Burns in 1793 tae mimic a speech gien bi Robert the Brus tae his airmy afore the Battle o Bannockburn in 1314. Tho Burns scrived the wirds, the muisic is gey auld (the tuin is Hey Tuttie Tattie that legend hauds wis played by the Scots airmy afore the battle).

The first teetle o the sang wis Robert Bruce's March To Bannockburn - that wis the teetle that it wis first kent unner, tho nou it is mair for ordinar kent as "Scots Wha Hae."

Scots Wha Hae is the pairty sang o the Scottis Naitional Pairtie and is sung efter their conferences ilka year.

[edit] Influence o Blind Harry

The poem shaws the influence o the makar Blind Harry (kent as Blind Hary, or Henry the Minstrel an aw) as ye can see fae Harry's line:

A false usurper sinks in every foe
And liberty returns with every blow

that Burns cried "A couplet wirthy o Homer" an adaptit as:

Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!

[edit] Wirds o the Sang

'Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome tae your gory bed,
Or tae Victorie!

'Now's the day, and now's the hour:
See the front o' battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and Slaverie!

'Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha will fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!

'Wha, for Scotland's king and law,
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or 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 usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow! -
Let us do or dee!'