Scottish Independence. Referendum. YES. SNP. SSP.
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This song was written in 1960 by Hamish Henderson. It is in the Scots Language. The tune is adapted from John McLellan's pipe march "The Bloody Fields of Flanders". Henderson described it as "expressing my hopes for Scotland, and for the survival of humanity on this beleagured planet."
Freedom Come All Ye
(Scots - English - explanation)
Roch the win i the clear day's dawin
Blaws the clouds heilster-gowdie owre the bay
But thair's mair nor a roch win blawin
Thro the Great Glen o the warl the day
It's a rough wind in the clear day's dawning
Blows the clouds head-over-heels across the bay
But there's more than a rough wind blowing
Through the Great Glen of the world today
the Great Glen is the rift valley which runs diagonally across Scotland, roughly separating Highland and Lowland Scotland, and is used here as a symbol of division, inequality, racism, exploitation and prejudice
It's a thocht that wad gar our rottans
It's a thought that would make our rodents,
in this context "rottans" can also be interpreted as "vermin"; it is a reference to opportunists, exploiters
Aa thae rogues that gang gallus fresh an gay
Tak the road an seek ither loanins
Wi thair ill-ploys tae sport an play
All those rogues who strut and swagger,
Take the road and seek other pastures
To carry out their wicked schemes
Nae mair will our bonnie callants
Merch tae war whan our braggarts crousely craw
No more will our fine young men
March to war at the behest of jingoists and imperialists
"crousely craw" has echoes of the carrion crow, the scavenger; these two lines are refering to the number of young Scots who joined the British Army out of dire economic necessity and were sent to colonised nations to do unto them what had previously been done unto us
Nor wee weans frae pitheid an clachan
Murn the ships sailin doun the Broomielaw
Nor will young children from mining communities and rural hamlets
Mourn the ships sailing off down the River Clyde
this reference to "ships sailing" carries a double image, that of the emigrant ships and also of warships. The images of mining and rural communities are used to bring together industrial and rural Scotland as one.
Broken faimilies in launs we've hairriet
Will curse "Scotlan the Brave" nae mair, nae mair
Broken families in lands we've helped to oppress
will never again have reason to curse the sound of advancing Scots
here "Scotland the Brave" refers to the sound of bagpipes announcing the arrival of Scots troops, a sound which came to be feared throughout the British Empire
Black an white ane-til-ither mairriet
Mak the vile barracks o thair maisters bare
Black and white, united in friendship and marriage,
Will result in the military garrisons being adandoned and empty
i.e., will bring an end to Imperialism.
... continued
...Sae come aa ye at hame wi freedom
So come all you who love freedom
"at hame wi", literally "at home with" can have several meanings in this context - who live with, who love, who already have
Never heed whit the houdies croak for Doom
Pay no attention to the prophets of doom
the "houdie" is another reference to the carrion crow
In yer hous aa the bairns o Aidam
Will fin breid, barley-bree an paintit room
In your house all the children of Adam
Will be welcomed with food, drink and hospitality
the unwritten laws of hospitality are historically sacred to the Scots
Whan MacLean meets wi's friens in Springburn
When the spirit of John MacLean returns to his people
John MacLean, Glasgow schoolteacher and anti-imperialist
Aa thae roses an geeans will turn tae blume
An a black laud frae yont Nyanga
Dings the fell gallows o the burghers doun.
All the flowers will blossom
And black Africa will bring crashing down
All Imperialism's dreadful apparatus of oppression
"dings doun", literally "tears down"
Very great song.
Yahushua bless you.
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