The lyric to me is not talking about 'rising' as in an actual 'rebellion' as it states the days of conflict are in the past and must remain in the past. Surely it is just talking about becoming an independent nation again? About standing alongside the other nations on your own right.

I get it that some people don't like it but facts are it was the people's choice. It had become the anthem of both the football and rugby terraces before GSTQ was dropped. So it isn't a song foisted on folks from above. I agree sometimes during the anthem itself it doesn't always work - but actually the crowd just started singing it half way through the second half last night and it sounded great like that. Corries did a more uptempo version too - see link below.

As to its quality well that is down to personal taste. It isn't something we do regularly at our pub session - but when we do it is usually because a tourist has requested it. It seems to be incredibly popular among French, Germans etc. So it must have something going for it when these folks have no axe to grind. I know some folk really like it because they believe in independence but equally it seems at least some are put off it because of their own unionist prejudices. One of these songs though that, yes when we do sing it, just about the whole place joins in.

It obviously has its political message but I think it is pretty clear vast amounts of folks sing it while not sharing the same ideals as the composer. Murrayfield is hardly a bastion of ardent nationalists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyx1xeZo_tk