Flower of Scotland is played at rugby and football games. However, athletes celebrate medals with Scotland the Brave.

The song refers to the victory of the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, over the English, under Edward II, at Bannockburn in 1314.

Flower of Scotland

Written by Roy Williamson of folk group The Corries in the 1960.

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,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

Those days are past 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.

0 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.

While Flower of Scotland is regularly played at football and rugby grounds, athletes have instead celebrated medals with Scotland the Brave.

Scotland the Brave

Composed by Cliff Hanley and set to some old bagpipe music.

Hark when the night is falling,
Hear! Hear the pipes are calling,
Loudly and proudly calling down through the glen.
There where the hills are sleeping,
now feel the blood a-leaping,
High as the spirits of the old highland men.
Towering in gallant frame,
Scotland my mountain hame
High may your proud standards gloriously wave.
Land of my high endeavour,
land of the shining river,
Land of my heart forever,
Scotland the Brave.

High in the misty highlands,
out by the purple islands,
Brave are the hearts that beat beneath Scottish skies.
Wild are the winds to meet you,
staunch are the friends that greet you,
Kind as the love that shines from fair maiden's eyes.
Towering in gallant frame,
Scotland my mountain hame
High may your proud standards gloriously wave.
Land of my high endeavour,
land of the shining river,
Land of my heart forever,
Scotland the Brave.

Far off in sunlit places,
sad are the Scottish faces,
Yearning to feel the kiss of sweet Scottish rain.
Where tropics skies are beaming,
love sets the heart a-dreaming,
Longing and dreaming of the homeland again.
Towering in gallant frame,
Scotland my mountain hame
High may your proud standards gloriously wave.
Land of my high endeavour,
land of the shining river,
Land of my heart forever,
Scotland the Brave.

Other related pages

British National Anthem

National Song of England

National Song of Wales

National Song of Northern Ireland and Ireland