Scotlandsmusic

This is a song written by Hamish Henderson, the Scottish poet, songwriter, andintellectual. It is written in the Scots Language and one of Hamish Henderson'smost important songs. It describes a wind of change blowing through Scotlandand the world at large. It renounces the tradition of the Scottish soldier both asimperial cannon-fodder and colonial oppressor, and ends with a vision of a futureglobal society which is multiracial and just.

The song was written in 1960, to an adaptation of the First World War pipemarch The Bloody Fields of Flanders, which Henderson first heard played on theAnzio beachhead. It was subsequently adopted by Glasgow Peace MarchersCND demonstrators, and the anti-Polaris campaign and is still a very popularsong in Scotland today.

1.Roch the wind in the clear day's dawin
Blaws the cloods heelster-gowdy owre the bay;
But there's mair nor a roch win blawin
Thro the great glen o the warld the day.
It's a thocht that will gar our rottans
Aa thae rogues that gang gallus fresh an gay
Tak the road an seek ither loanins
For their ill-ploys tae sport an play.


2.Nae mair will the bonnie callants
Merch tae war when our braggarts crousely craw;
Nor wee weans frae pit-heid an clachan
Mourn the ships sailin doun the Broomielaw.
Broken faimilies in lands we've hairriet
Will curse Scotland the Brave nae mair, nae mair.
Black an white ane till ither mairriet
Mak the vile barracks o their maisters bare.


3. O come aa ye at hame wi freedom
Never heed whit the hoodies croak for doom
In yer house aa the bairns o Adam
Can find breid, barley-bree an paintit room.
When MacLean meets wi's freens in Springburn

Aa the roses an geans will turn tae bloomAnd a black boy frae yont NyangaDings the fell gallows o the burghers doon.