The Flower of Scotland

Flower of Scotland (technically the name The Flower of Scotland is correct, but is rarely used) is the unofficial national anthem of Scotland, a role for which it competes against its more upbeat rival Scotland the Brave. The only officially recognised anthem in the UK remains God Save the Queen, however. Flower of Scotland was written by Roy Williamson of folk act The Corries.

The song is a particular favourite of Scottish Rugby fans, who first adopted it for the Lions tour of South Africa in 1974. The last two lines of each verse are generally sung with particular ferocity, especially before games against England. The Scottish Football Association adopted Flower of Scotland as its official pre-game anthem in 1997, following the Scottish Rugby Union's example.

The song (sung as a lament) relates the struggles of the Scots leader William Wallace against the English king Edward II.

Official Scots lyrics

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

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

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