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Scotland national anthem

Flower of Scotland is the unofficial national anthem of Scotland, written and composed by Roy Williamson.

Facts awaiting a check against primary sources

Lyrics

Flower of Scotland

O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
Your likes again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against them,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent them homeward,
Tae think again.

The Hills are bare now,
And Autumn leaves lie thick and still,
O’er land that is lost now,
Which those so dearly held,
That stood against them,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent them homeward,
Tae think again.

Those days are past now,
And in the past
they must remain,
But we can still rise now,
And be a nation again,
That stood against them,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent them homeward,
Tae think again.

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History

Scotland has no official national anthem by law, but the song most commonly used as one is “Flower of Scotland.”

At sporting events, only the first and third verses are usually sung.

It refers to the Battle of Bannockburn (1314), where Robert the Bruce defeated King Edward II of England.

Scotland’s official UK national anthem remains “God Save the King”, but that is rarely used at Scottish sporting events.

Sources

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