Designed & produced by Eric Maclewis
© ericdentinger.com
2008-2024
Robert Bruce's March To Bannockburn
(Robert Burns)
Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled
Scots wham Bruce has aften led
Welcome tae yer gory bed
Or tae victorie
Now's the day and now's the hour
See the front o' battle lour
See approach proud Edward's power
Chains and slaverie
Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha will fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae 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 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
Lay the proud usurper low
Tyrants fall in every foe
Liberty's in every blow
Let us do or dee
Jim Nicol & The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
Rob Roy (Hector Berlioz)
Jim Lyall (A Parcel o' Rogues)
Scots Wha Hae - Bruce's Address
The lyrics, Robert Bruce's March To Bannockburn, were written by Robert Burns (1759-1796), the famous Scottish poet.
The text fits to an old Scottish tune, Hey Tuttie Tatie, that might have been sung by the Scottish army at the battle of Bannockburn (1314).
It also could have been a standard tune during the Jacobite risings (18th century) under the name of Fill Up Your Bumpers High.
It has been considered as the Scottish anthem during a long time and is still used by the Scottish National Party.
The score is also known by Bruce's Address, referring - according to Robert Burns - to the address of Robert The Bruce (King of Scotland) to his army before Bannockburn.
Pipe-bands often play it as a march but I prefer follow the slower beat of the song and play each phrase only one time, as for the song. I also have added a fermata at the end of bars 3 and 7 to get an useful emphasis.
The first verse who gave the name to the song, Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled - or Scots who have with Wallace bled - is about William Wallace, who's story has been told by the famous Braveheart movie (Mel Gibson-1995).
Scots Wha Hae has been also used by Hector Berlioz in his Rob Roy Overture composed in 1831 (see bellow) and in Max Bruch Scottish Fantasy in E flat major (1880).
SLOW AIR
LYRICS
Bagpipe Tutorial
- score written by Eric Maclewis with CelticPipes