The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #6768   Message #1232339
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
23-Jul-04 - 02:01 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The Black Bear
Subject: Lyr Add: SCOTS WHA HAE / BANNOCKBURN (Robt Burns)
"Scots Wha' Hae" is surely known th everyone here, but the last lines of each verse (DT, and posts) differ from those in my "Burns' Poems." I think the abbreviated lines are better, but for the record, here is the version from the book.

Lyr. Add: Bannockburn
[Scots wha hae]
Robert Bruce's address to his army
Tune "Hey tuttie taitie"

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led;
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to glorious victorie.

Now's the day and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lower;
See approach proud Edward's power-
Edward! chains and slaverie!

Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Traitor! coward! turn and flee!

Wha for Scotland's King and law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Free-men stand, or free-men fa'?
Caledonian! on wi' me!

By oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall- they SHALL be free!

Lay the proud ursurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Forward! let us do or die!

A footnote in this edition: In September, 1793, Burns sent this song to Mr. Thomson. "There is," he wrote, "a tradition, which I have met with in many places of Scotland, that it" (the old air Hey tuttie taitie) 'was Robert Bruce's march at the battle of Bannockburn. This thought in my yesternight's evening walk warmed me to a pitch of enthusiasm on the theme of Liberty and Independence. which I threw into a kind of Scotch ode, fitted to the air, that one might suppose to be the gallant royal Scot's address to his heroic followers, on that eventful morning. So may God ever defend the cause of truth and Liberty as He did that day. Amen." Mr. Thomson wrote suggesting alterations, and Burns replied:- "Who shall decide when doctors disagree?" My ode pleases me so much, that I cannot alter it. Your proposed alterations would, in my opinion, make it tame. I am exceedingly obliged to you for putting me on reconsidering it, as I think I have much improved it. .... I have scrutinized it over and over; and to the world, some way or other, it shall go as it is."

The Poetical Works of Robert Burns.... with biographical memoir by Alexander Smith.