Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday has a floral theme this week – which made me think of this.

‘Flower of Scotland’ is the quasi-official sporting national anthem of Scotland. It’s always heard at its best when, as in the accompanying video, belted out at maximum volume by a full house at Murrayfield, the national rugby stadium in Edinburgh (where I spent many a – somewhat hazy – Saturday afternoon, thirty years ago and more).

‘Flower of Scotland’ is a comparatively recent composition, written in the mid-1960s by Roy Williamson of The Corries, stalwarts of the Scottish folk music scene. The lyrics hark back to the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, when the Scottish army, led by Robert The Bruce, defeated the English led by Edward I (‘the hammer of the Scots’).

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
Proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward
Tae 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
And stood against him
Proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

Song Lyric Sunday 4 April 2021