"Scotland the Brave" (Scottish Gaelic: Alba an Aigh) 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". [1] [2] [3]
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The tune probably first appeared around the turn of the 20th century,[4] 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 Fascists 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.
| Scotland the Brave - Cliff Hanley lyrics |
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Hark! When the night is falling Chorus Chorus High in the misty Highlands, Chorus Far off in sunlit places, Chorus |
There is another set of lyrics known as My Bonnie Lassie
| My Bonnie Lassie lyrics |
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Drums in my heart are drummin, Chorus: Somewhere a ship and crew, Chorus Sad are the lads she's leavin, Chorus |
There is also an alternate set of lyrics by John McDermott Scotland Forever, sung to the same tune:
| John McDermott version lyrics |
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Let Italy boast of her gay gilded waters, Scotland's blue mountains wild where hoary cliffs are piled, Enthroned on the peak of her own highland mountains, Here among my mountains wild I have serenely smiled, But see how proudly her war steeds are prancing, Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs, Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs, |
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 Scotland.[5] The song was used to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Games until it was replaced by Flower of Scotland from the 2010 games in Delhi onwards.[6]