Flower of Scotland
Unofficial anthem of Scotland
LyricsRoy Williamson, 1966–1967
MusicRoy Williamson, 1966—1967
Published1967

"Flower of Scotland" (Scottish Gaelic: Flùr na h-Alba, Scots: Flouer o Scotland) is a Scottish song, frequently performed on special occasions and at sporting events as the unofficial National anthem of Scotland.

Background

The song was composed in the mid-1960s by Roy Williamson of the folk group the Corries. It was first heard publicly in a 1967 BBC television series, where it did not yet include the third 'we can still rise now' verse.[1] The words refer to the victory of the Scots, led by Robert I, over Edward II of England at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Although there is no official national anthem of Scotland, "Flower of Scotland" is one of a number of songs which are used, along with the older "Scotland the Brave".[2]

The song was composed and is sung in English, with one Scots word ("Tae" for "To").[3] It has been translated into Scots.[4]

Sporting events

Flower of Scotland being performed and played prior to the 2017 mid-year rugby union international Australia v Scotland

The song has been used as an anthem by the Scotland rugby union team, ever since the winger, Billy Steele, encouraged his team-mates to sing it on the British Lions tour of South Africa in 1974.[5] The song was adopted as the pre-game anthem for the 1990 Five Nations Championship, first non-officially for the initial home game against France,[6] then for the deciding match between Scotland and England at Murrayfield, which Scotland won 13–7 to win the Grand Slam.[7][8] The Scottish Football Association adopted "Flower of Scotland" as its pre-game national anthem in 1997[9] although it was first used by them in 1993.[10] Usually only the first and third verses are sung. The most common shouted interjections are "'Gainst who?" and "Bastards".

Commonwealth Games

The song was used as the victory anthem of Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2010, replacing "Scotland the Brave". This trend continued to the Commonwealth Games in 2014 where it was again Team Scotland's anthem and was sung following a Scottish gold medal. It was sung four times when Team Scotland won four gold medals in the opening day.[11]

Olympics

At the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, the song was sung at Edinburgh Castle by 53 Scottish children selected from schools across Scotland.[12]

Official anthem

In July 2006, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted an online poll (publicised by Reporting Scotland) in which voters could choose a national anthem from one of five candidates.[13] 10,000 people took part in the poll, in which "Flower of Scotland" came out the winner with 41% of the votes.[14]

Other uses

Paris Saint-Germain fans sing the chant "Ô Ville Lumière" ("City of Light") to the tune of Flower of Scotland.[15] The song was featured on the 1983 album 'A Sense of Freedom' by the Wolfe Tones.[16]

David Tennant’s character Crowley sings the song in episode 3 of the second season of Good Omens. [17]

References

  1. ↑ The Corries website Archived 29 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine – (visited 28 August 2007)
  2. ↑ Andrew Black (24 May 2011). "Will Scotland ever have a national anthem?". BBC.
  3. ↑ The Corries Complete Songbook; 1990, p11.
  4. ↑ "The Corries - Flower of Scotland lyrics + English (Scots) translation".
  5. ↑ SONGS OF THE SIX NATIONS Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ English, Tom (3 February 2011). The Grudge: Two Nations, One Match, No Holds Barred. Penguin Random House. p. 131. ISBN 9780224083218 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Bath, Richard (ed.) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007 ISBN 1-905326-24-6), p. 14
  8. ↑ "The Perfect Rugby Anthem – Flower of Scotland!" WalesOnline, 7 February 2009 (visited 26 May 2011)
  9. ↑ "BBC Sport Academy – The Flower of Scotland". BBC Sport. 23 January 2003. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  10. ↑ "Why SFA president wants to scrap Flower of Scotland 'dirge'". The Herald (Scotland). 3 June 2007.
  11. ↑ "Glasgow 2014: Scotland open Games by winning four golds". BBC Sport.
  12. ↑ "London 2012: Scottish choir sings for opening ceremony". BBC News. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "Flower of Scotland is first choice in RSNO anthem poll". The Herald. Glasgow. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  14. ↑ "Background Info". The Scottish Parliament. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  15. ↑ "VIDÉOS - Les chants les plus emblématiques des supporters dans les stades de foot en France". France Bleu (in French). 20 April 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  16. ↑ Maley, Wily (2016). Scotland and the Easter Rising Fresh Perspectives on 1916. Luath Press Limited.
  17. ↑ "Good Omens Season 2 Soundtrack Guide – Every Song & when It Plays". Screen Rant. 29 July 2023.
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