Flower of Scotland

Flower of Scotland is a popular Scottish song often heard at special occasions and sporting events. This is also a popular song for the bagpipes. Flower of Scotland, along with Scots Wha Hae and Scotland the Brave, are considered unofficial national anthems of Scotland. Roy Williamson of the Corries wrote both the lyrics and music Read More

Scotland the Brave

Scotland the Brave is a Scottish patriotic song and considered one of the unofficial national anthems of Scotland, alongside Flower of Scotland and Scots Wha Hae. The earliest known version of the song appeared in 1911. The lyrics best known today were written by Cliff Hanley, a Scottish journalist, around 1950. He wrote the lyrics Read More

Scots Wha Hae

Scots Wha Hae is another patriotic song for Scotland.  The song usually comes in third after Scotland the Brave and Flower of Scotland. The lyrics were written in 1793 by the national Scottish poet, Robert Burns.  The poem is a speech given by Robert the Bruce before the Scots fight England in the Battle of Read More

The Irish Rover

“The Irish Rover” is an Irish folk song about an improbably, sailing ship which reaches an unfortunate end. The song describes “a gigantic twenty-seven masted ship with a colourful crew and varied types of cargo in enormous amounts.” Each verse builds from the previous verses, making the ship more extravagant and wonderous than the last Read More

Whiskey in the Jar-O

Whiskey in the Jar-O is a traditional Irish song set in the southern mountains of Ireland. The song is a traditional Irish and Scottish song. The song usually takes place in various Irish locales, especially Kerry, Cork and Lilmoganny.  Some performers use other locales, especially those in America. The song tells the story of a Read More

Behind the Song: Highland Cathedral

Often when you hear the bagpipes one of the songs that is popular to be played is Highland Cathedral, although the song does have lyrics.   The song falls right behind Amazing Grace and Scotland the Brave, as a request for the bagpipes. In honor of St. Andrews Day later this month, I thought this would Read More

The Blue Bells of Scotland

In honor of Scotland’s St. Andrews Day at the end of the month, I wanted to explore the history of one of Scotland’s popular folk songs. The 19th Century actress, Dorothea Jordan, introduced the song in the early 1800s at the Drury Lane Theatre in Edinburgh.  She claimed to perform the song to an “original Read More