The year was 1320, in the Abbey of Arbroath
And when the sons of sovereign Scotland first took that solemn oath
For freedom we’ll endeavour, and liberty we’ll strive
And to England: No surrender, while one hundred true Scots Survive

And on this glorious occasion, was Scotlands future writ,
To foreign domination, we never shall submit
For freedom we’ll endeavour, and liberty we’ll strive
And to England: No surrender, while one hundred true Scots Survive

With words of promise spoken, to calm our bitter steel
Like blades of grass lie broken, beneath the Saxon heel
For freedom we’ll endeavour, and liberty we’ll strive
And to England: No surrender, while one hundred true Scots Survive

And if our chosen fail us, and kneel at Londons door
Lest treason should assail us, we shall take to the steel once more
For freedom we’ll endeavour, and liberty we’ll strive
And to England: No surrender, while one hundred true Scots Survive

And for freedom we’ll endeavour, and liberty we’ll strive
And to England: No surrender, while one hundred true Scots Survive
And for freedom we’ll endeavour, and liberty we’ll strive

And so to England: No surrender, while one hundred true Scots Survive!

Scottish Gaelic

Cluinnidh mi thar uchd na mara
Ard os cionn na gaoith ri gaillinn
Torman beag an cois a’chladaich
Mionaghallan na maighdinn Bharraich

Seachad Ciosmul a’chaisteil
Eithrichean a’ ruith le astar
Fàth mo bhròin tha aon tè dh’aindheoin
m’ùrnaighean nach tìll gu acair

Ionndrainn mo leannainn ga mo riasladh
Mar fhraoch geamhraidh tha mi ciaradh
Speireid beatha dh’fhalbh e, chrion e
Dh’fhalbh an gaol ‘s an òig gu siorruidh

Cha dean sinne ghaolaich chiataich
Mànran ri chòile gu siorruidh
Gruagach na stuadh ghabh i miann ort
Shuain i cuailein ort na liaghain

Cluinnidh mi thar uchd na mara
Ard os cionn na gaoith ri gaillinn
Torman beag an cois a’chladaich
Mionaghallan na maighdinn Bharraich

English translation

I hear from the depth of the sea
High above the raging wind
Soft murmuring on the shore
The keening of the Barra maiden

Passing Ciosmul Castle
Boats sail swiftly
The reason for my sorrow
One of them will not return to anchor in spite of my prayers

Missing my sweetheart is torturing me
I am graying like the winter heather
The spirit of life is gone, decayed
Love and youth have gone forever

We, my gentle love
Will never talk sweetly together
The maiden of the waves desired you
She wrapped her hair of seaweed ’round you

I hear from the depth of the sea
High above the raging wind
Soft murmuring on the shore
The keening of the Barra maiden

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever; Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee, Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.

Who shall say that Fortune grieves him, While the stars above she leaves him?
Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me; Dark despair around benights me.

I’ll ne’er blame my partial fancy, Naething could resist my Nancy:
But, to see her was to love her; Love but her, and love for ever.

Had we never lov’d sae kindly, Had we never lov’d sae blindly,
Never met-or never parted, We had ne’er been broken-hearted.

Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest! Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure, Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever! Ae farewell alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee, Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.

Hear my voice blowing on the breeze,
Know your fate know your history,
As I am now you one day will be,
Face your past then face your destiny,
Mmhh mhh mhh

Now you may live a different place,
Brought up and lived a different way,
But if you have our blood in your veins,
Then you will know us, know home, know who you are.
Mmhh mhh mhh

Now here you are, standing next to me,
Come take my hand, and walk with me,
If you could feel the peace in our hills and glens,
You would know in swear with all begin
and you would know who I really am

On a dark and fateful morning, they rode into our town,
They burned down all our houses with permission from the crown.
Slaughtered all our cattle, took away our women…
They killed all our young men before they could give battle

So hold your claymores, hold them high…
To break our will you can try…
But we will fight you till the end…
Our will unbroken you cannot bend !

We grew up ever fearful, that they might come back,
Those government dragoons on their horses of black.
But we have grown strong now and are ready to fight…
Stand up against those butchers and put them to flight.

So hold your claymores, hold them high…
To break our will you can try…
But we will fight you till the end…
Our will unbroken you cannot bend !

The Cameron of Locheil, led the clans that day,
Before the bloody battle he shouted make them pay.
We charged with dirk and claymore… fuelled by our hate…
To see the fear on their faces as they realised their fate…

So hold your claymores, hold them high…
To break our will you can try…
But we will fight you till the end…
Our will unbroken you cannot bend !

As we sit around this fire, and think on the past…
And how we stood against them down to the last.
Think on friends and kinsmen, that we left behind…
And on Scotland’s glory that we fought to find.

So hold your claymores, hold them high…
To break our will you can try…
But we will fight you till the end…
Our will unbroken you cannot bend !

So hold your claymores, hold them high…
To break our will you can try…
But we will fight you till the end…
Our will unbroken you cannot bend !

So hold your claymores, hold them high…
To break our will you can try…
But we will fight you till the end !

Oh how peaceful is the glen, gentle the breeze
as it whispers through the stones, and the trees

But how quickly it can change, and now the wind is blowin’
and shadows flicker on the wall, as the last embers are glowin’

Something’s stirring in the night, unrest is dwelling
and unsuspecting sleepers dream, no ill foretelling

But some ne’er wakened from those dreams, some never saw the face of danger
and others perished at the hands, of someone who was no stranger

Now the sun is setting low, the glen lies sleeping
and in the shadows dark and cold, someone is weeping

But the sun will rise again, o’er the hills and o’er river
and the spirit of the glen, will live forever
and the spirit of the glen, will live forever.

You wrapped her up in iron chains
You thought you’d tied her up
You placed a ball around her feet
Thought you’d tame her like a pup

You milked her veins so dry, aye
You stripped her back so bare
And then u looked her in the eye
And said “it’s only fair”

Now is it any wonder why
We treat you like we do
You strut about your mansions like
You didnae have a clue

But you know who you are, Aye
And you know what you’ve done
So don’t act so innocent
When we rise and end your fun

What will you do when the drought comes forth
And you cannae bleed the north
What will you do when your lakes dry up
Will you turn and beg your pup

What will you do when your houses freeze
With nay oil in your seas
Aye will you turn in blind ignorance
And beg forgiveness please

So maybe now you realise
Just how you treated her
Cause now she’s mighty and she’s strong
It’s too late to right your wrongs

But maybe in the future, Aye
She’ll free you from your shame
And then you’ll look in awe of her
Aye, Scotland is her name

Cause then you’ll look in awe of her
Aye, Scotland is her name.

(spoken)

I wonder what you felt inside, as they dragged you through foreign streets
The townsfolk spat venom at you, as churchmen took their seats
And did you think of your Motherland, as you stood there centre stage
Or did you feel suppression, Dear Sir, like an animal in a cage ?

I wonder what you felt inside, as they hung you by your throat
Through tear-welled eyes you looked out, as the crowd began to gloat.
And when they cut you down, so that your body slammed the ground
Did you pray to God for strength, Dear Sir, to fight another round ?

I wonder what you felt inside, when you burned with ropes pulled tight
Did you see the glee upon their faces, as they watched you lose the fight ?
And when every inch of your body cried out, with a burning, searing pain,
Did it ever cross your mind, Dear Sir, “was it all in vain” ?

I wonder what you felt inside, when you met the butcher’s blade
Did you see their blank expressions, as they watched your life-force fade ?
Or did your soul break free from the pain and the hurt, to a pine covered glen
And will you ever know, Dear Sir, what a hero you became ?

Aye, will you ever know, Dear Sir, what a hero you became ?

(shouted)

Don’t fear their cannons or their muskets !
Charge with me !
We fight for what we love, we fight for our country !
Scotsmen, charge, for Scotland !

My love is gone, my love has left me
Ravens circle where he lies upon the plain.
Wolves triumph and howl, with the Valkyries
Search for heroes for Valhalla’s endless feast.

The hills and vales , they hold no joy for me now
Only memories too painful to endure.
Oh my love, if this one shape I could only take
Then I would search for you, and find you once again.

Brave upon the field, shoulder to shoulder
With your chieftain bold, you held the banner high.
Arrows thick and fierce, obscure the sunlight
Pierced your gallant breast, now with your lord you lie.

The hills and vales, they hold no joy for me now
Only memories too painful to endure.
Oh my love, if this one shape I could only take
Then I would search for you, and find you once again.

Now I haunt the hills, my heart is broken
I see your smiling face, in every hill and glen.
I search the clouds and sky, I strain to hear your voice
Blowing from Valhalla, whose sacred halls you guard.

The hills and vales, they hold no joy for me now
Only memories too painful to endure.
Oh my love, if this one shape I could only take
Then I would search for you, and find you once again.