To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26386
20 messages

Donald Dewar/Flower of Scotland

12 Oct 00 - 10:13 AM (#317170)
Subject: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Dave the Gnome

On UK radio 2 at around 5:30pm last night Johny Walker (The DJ not the whisky) played what I felt was a very fitting tribute to Donald Dewer - the Corries singing Flower of Scotland. I am not a Scot and have no Scottish ancestry (Oddly enough 2 of my sons are called Andrew and Stewart - perhaps I am a closet Scot???) but it brought a lump to my throat anyway.

Flower of Scotland is one of my favourite songs and it was nice to hear folk music on mainstream radio as well.

I think Mr Dewer was one of the few honest polititians in the world and a brilliant statesman at that. A great loss to the world of politics and special commiserations to all Scots out there who are feeling the loss.

Dave the McGnome

12 Oct 00 - 04:20 PM (#317467)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Quincy

He will indeed be missed...."When will we see your like again"

Yvonne

12 Oct 00 - 04:31 PM (#317471)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: GUEST,Tony in Sweden

Thanks Dave,
Nice to know that there are some people especially non-scots, who know that the tragic and sudden death of Donald Dewar will be a sad loss to politics. It suddenly brings back that awfull feeling of six years ago when it was announced that John Smith had passed away, Scotland mourns again!. Both men were born leaders who were cut short in their prime.
May Scotland remember that Donald Dewar was the architect of Devolution, that he was our modern day Wallace and that it was he who gave to the cry of "FREEDOM" once more.
Mr Donald Dewar, from the bottom of my heart, I thank thee.
May God Bless your soul.

12 Oct 00 - 05:52 PM (#317530)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Liz the Squeak

Amen to that.

LTS

12 Oct 00 - 07:16 PM (#317614)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Tattie Bogle

I wrote a wee song about Donald Dewar at the time of the first Scottish parliamentary elections in May 1999: I had certain reservations about the Labour Party plans for the Health Service, as you will gather from the second verse! I hope it won't sound irreverent if I post it now, Along with a newly penned fourth verse.

TUNE: THE RED FLAG (Labour Party Anthem)

Oh, Donald Dewar, Oh, Donald Dewar,
You're thin and lean as a meat skewer,
You want to crack down on the crack,
And give us no more income tax.
You'll turn our school kids into geeks,
Who only know computer-speak,
And if apprenticed I would be
You'll find us jobs, now just you see.

And when you feel at 3 a.m.
Oh no. Here comes that pain again,
I've only had it 20 years,
But Donald says, "Now never fear,
Just talk to NHS Direct",
And nurse there says, "Now don't you fret,
You need a doctor right away,
This cannot wait till light of day."

With PFI and NHP
We'll change the face of our country,
With SDEA, SLP,
We'll keep the red rose blooming free.
And Tony Blair's from Fettes School,
His rock band always plays it cool,
So let them groove at Holyrood
If Donald Dewar's "in the mood".

But now Big Donald's gone away,
He'll never see that glorious day
When MSPs move from the Mound
To Holyrood on lower ground.
Although he's gone, try not to grieve,
His vision, dreams we will achieve,
For Scotland his ideals were clear,
We'll keep the saltire flying here.

12 Oct 00 - 08:09 PM (#317657)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Wavestar

He was a good and honest man. I was surprised when a moment of silence fell even in the St Andrews Student Union bar when the announcement came. Scotland and the world will miss him.

-J

13 Oct 00 - 06:42 PM (#318372)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Linda Kelly

A great politician indeed and I too was haunted by the memories of the loss of john Smith -it would be nice if the new parliament building could pay a fitting tribute to both men by being named after them.

14 Oct 00 - 02:07 AM (#318605)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: john c

I was watching the news on the box when I heard about Donald Dewars death and it occured to me that nearly all the other main stories were about the fight for independence and the right for a national group to rule itself. Whether its in Ireland, Spain, the Middle East, ex-Yugoslavia, the Philipines.....the list goes on and on....and all these places have seen so much bloodshed and killing in trying to achieve their aim.
In Scotland, a huge degree of independence (with a lot more to come!)has been reached without a drop of blood being spilled and Donald Dewars role in achieving this was unestimable. Its a tremendous legacy he leaves behind him and Scotland can be proud to have shown what can be achieved without violence. (Maybe a wee bit too much patriotism creeping in here....hmmmm)
Anyway, he was a great statesman - and deserves a damn site better song than Flower of Scotland..... "wee bit hill and glen".... aw, c´mon!!!
Aw ra best
Jock (for the occasion!)

14 Oct 00 - 02:14 AM (#318609)
Subject: The Red Flag
From: Haruo

I will admit I never heard of Mr. Dewar (who I take it, like the DJ, is to be distinguished from the whisky of the same name), but I am sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to the whole Scottish nation.

But I'm posting this because I never heard of the Labour Party anthem, The Red Flag, and wonder if it's on the web someplace (no, I didn't check the Digitrad before I started typing this ;-) and what the tune's like. Sounds positively communistic (I thought Labour was Second International). Might be a good song.

Liland

14 Oct 00 - 03:04 PM (#318860)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Dave the Gnome

Thanks all for responding. Enjoyed the song. Didn't really expect such a response but once again - thanks. Restores ones faith in human nature!

Cheers

Dave the McGnome

16 Oct 00 - 06:42 PM (#320264)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Susanne (skw)

I hadn't heard DD was ill, but happened on the Guardian site the night he died, and found the bad news there. Gave me quite a shock, and my sympathy is for his children and for all Scots who pinned their hopes on him. I'm not sure he was a fan of 'Flower of Scotland' - he seemed more of a 'Freedom Come-All-Ye' man to me. But without doubt, and though it has been said before, he was an honest politician, a sincere person, and the biggest single architect of Scotland's devolved future. They could have done with him a little longer, but I hope his memory will guide his colleagues and successor.

16 Oct 00 - 06:58 PM (#320283)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Max Tone

Tattie Bogle's first few verses say it all. Dewar may have been honourable, an' a' that, but before he croaked, he put the Party before Scotland -- just witness the marked avoidance of Calton Hill as even a temporary Parliament, 'cos they thought of it as "The National Shibboleth"..........After his death, his political opponents suddenly praise him. Bollocks.......................Trish, you fancy reposting your lyrics with 'cat freindly format?.......Rob

18 Oct 00 - 04:36 PM (#322092)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Tattie Bogle

I would if I could: neatly typed in perfect stanzas, came out all in long straight lines!

19 Oct 00 - 12:20 PM (#322562)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: JulieF

I watched his funeral on the news last night. When they took the coffin out it was accompanied by - A Man's a man for a' that' ( played on fiddle and accordian - possibly Ali Bain but I wouldn't swear to that). I could't think of anything more apt.

Julie

19 Oct 00 - 02:42 PM (#322676)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: GeorgeH

Ali Bain and Phil Cunningham.

And don't confuse pragmatism with "betrayal of principal"; I'm confident that, in private, Dewar left the Blairite faction in no doubt what he thought of them!

G.

19 Oct 00 - 02:50 PM (#322681)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Tattie Bogle

Twas indeed Aly Bain on fiddle and Phil Cunningham on accordion. Cathie Peattie sang "Aye waukin' o", another Burns song.

20 Jun 03 - 08:56 PM (#969989)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Leo Condie

so I was searching for rabbie burns songs, and I have to get to wondering, was this thread a joke?

20 Jun 03 - 09:08 PM (#969995)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Hillheader

No it was not a joke Leo.

DD was a great politian who played the game par excelance!! He is about to be blamed for the debacle of the Scottish Parliament (original cost £40M now £400M) because he cannot sue!

Freedom Come All Ye would be a better tribute that Flower of Scotland.

He was a man of the people.

Davebhoy

21 Jun 03 - 10:28 AM (#970166)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: GUEST,Guest

He was a true British Labour politician who opposed any form of Scottish independence and merely offered devolution to stop the upsurge in Scottish feeling. He hoped that devolution would stop any further cry for independence and I'm sure The Vicar of Brae would have been a more appropiate choice of music for him.

21 Jun 03 - 12:50 PM (#970216)
Subject: RE: Donald Dewer/Flower of Scotland
From: Leo Condie

The reason he was brought in was specifically because his skills with the law meant he could minimise the power given to a devolved Scottish government.