“Scots Wha Hae” an Unofficial National Anthem
July 4, 2009 by The Laird
Filed under Burns Night
Scots Wha Hae
One of Scotland truly patriotic songs first written By Robert Burns in 1793 as through it was being said by Robert the Bruce just before the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. A battle which will remembered by Scots worldwide as the turning point in the battle for independence from England and a chance to rule themselves. Unfortunately that success was not be when Edward Langshafts the English king was able to raise much stronger larger armies.
Burns is said to have also been inspired by reading of the struggle for American Independence against foreign rule and like many Scots of that time wanted the American war to be the trigger for many more struggles right across Europe including his own country becoming free at last of English rule.
At the time of its publication Bruce could have been prosecuted for inspiring Scots to rebel. During the very same month (August 1783) as it was published a famous trial was being held of a Glasgow lawyer Thomas Muir as part of a crackdown by the British Government on people who were seen to be supporting rebellion.
Original Scots Version of Scots Wha Hae |
English Translation of Scots Wha Hae |
| ‘Scots, wha hæ wi’bled, Scots, wham Bruce has aften led, Welcome tæ yer gory bed, Or tæ Victorie! |
‘Scots, who have with Wallace bled, Scots, whom Bruce has often led, Welcome to your gory bed Or to victory! |
| ‘Now’s the day, and now’s the hour: See the front o’ battle lour, See approach proud Edward’s power - Chains and Slaverie! |
‘Now is the day, and now is the hour: See the front of battle lower (threaten), See approach proud Edward’s power - Chains and slavery! |
| ‘Wha will be a traitor knave? Wha will fill a coward’s grave? Wha sæ base as be a slave? Let him turn and flee! |
‘Who will be a traitor knave? Who will fill a coward’s grave? Who’s so 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! |
‘Who for Scotland’s King and Law Freedom’s sword will strongly draw, Freeman stand or freeman fall, Let him follow me! |
| ‘By Oppression’s woes and pains! By your sons in servile chains! We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free! |
‘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!’ |
‘Lay the proud usurpers low! Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberty is in every blow! Let us do or die!’ |
Scots Wha Hae has now been largely replaced by songs such as Scotland the Brave and Flower of Scotland but lives on as a rallying call for the Scottish National Party. A political party campaigning for Scottish Independence just like Robert the Bruce and William Wallace (BraveHeart) did hundreds of years ago.
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Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] Scots Wha Hae by Robert Burns was at one time regarded as the unofficial national anthem and is still a strong contender if Scotland gets its independence. It was strongly inspired by the American struggle for independence from the same English government. [...]
[...] Scots Wha Hae by Robert Burns was at one time regarded as the unofficial national anthem and is still a strong contender if Scotland gets its independence. It was strongly inspired by the American struggle for independence from the same English government. [...]