At the end of the day does your heart fly
To the lochs and the glens and the islands
Do you dream of the Clyde or a bonnie border town
Do the pipes make you shiver and want to see your mother
It's been too long since you've been gone,
Too long since you've been home
To the place that's forever in your heart
To walk your father's steps again in the soft Scottish rain
So follow the wild geese home.
From the wilderness of Torridon to Australia 's New South Wales
From The Black Isle to Nova Scotia
From Fife to Dubai , New York from a croft on Skye
A new beginning whether forced or chasing dreams
In San Francisco Bay do you dream of the Tay
Do you long to walk down Princes Street once more
At night on your rig are your thoughts of Stirling Brig
Follow the wild geese home.
Were your forefathers' families cleared from the land
And sent in exile to the New World
Did they give that foreign place a loved familiar name
Of a home they would never see again
Or did you sail on the tide seeking fortune
On a ship that you built years before
Did you make that last trip to the graveyard
To say your final farewell to these shores
For at the end of your days you know your soul will fly
And follow the wild geese home
I did not close my eyes for the last time under Caledonia 's skies
With my good friends gathered all around me to say their last goodbyes.
But I will not be forgotten- in the heart of every Scot I still live on
Now it's time to fly the saltire high my spirit's coming home
I'm coming home – back where I belong
I'm coming home – my spirit's coming home
They tore apart my body so I could not rise on judgement day
But what they did not realise is now I'll never go away
And I'm coming back to the land I love and the people I hold dear
To Scotland , St. Andrew and freedom
I'm coming home – back where I belong
I'm coming home – my spirit's coming home
I'm returning after all this time to Caledonian skies
To the country we died for so our nation would survive
Once again to stand beside the people I hold dear
For Scotland , St Andrew and freedom
This is my land, I stand beside my brothers,
Each man here to face this day of destiny.
We answered The Bruce, not for greed and not for gain
We fight only to be free
For days I have walked across the moorland
Leaving far behind the glen where I was born
And a frightened crying woman carrying my child
I trust in God that I will live to hold my son
This day brings a Scottish dawn
And freedom is the right of every man
We give our all here today, so our children can say
This is our land and we are Scotland 's sons
Now we will face this hour together.
We may fear, but we will never run
We will pay the cost though many good friends will be lost
Tomorrow, our flag will fly again
On this Coxet Hill we gathered to the saltire
When we are long gone, our sons of sons will say
“They stood behind The Bruce not for greed and not for gain
but on this Borestone field they died that we be free”
so if we die here today, we die for Scotland 's sons.
The winter sun was shining this morning on the glen
And the frost on the trees took my breath away
The snow covered mountains never seemed so near
And my thoughts turned to hogmanay and the coming year
Slainte Mhath 2000 here's a toast from the old land
“Wherever you may be, may your god watch over you”
when the first bell chimes, raise your glass to your homeland
as you take your first steps into the next thousand years
We've come a long way, but have we come so far
When every day some country is at war
Yet man to man the world o'er could brithers be ye know
If we'd just listen to a child who was born two thousand years ago
For auld lang syne……
In the summer of '90 we headed to Italy
To take on the world we were going for glory
Sometimes you make us cry but the spirit will never die
Because one day our nation will cause a sensation
Scotland – the lion roars with pride
Scotland – theTartan army's at your side
Give us a goal for the millions of miles
Don't forget to give your mum a smile
In Scotland where the lion roars with pride
From hampden to germany we flew the saltire high
Argentina then Spain saw lions waving in the sky
sang “here we go here we go” to Mexico
italy was five in a row, there's atarmy party everywhere we go
Scotland - the lion roars with pride
Scotland – the tartan army's at your side
Give us a goal for the millions of miles
You'll hear us cheering in the western isles
Scotland – the lion roars with pride
Brazilian drums beat to Flower of Scotland through the warm Italian night
we didn't bring the cup back home cos we played a load of shite
but now that it's all over we can hear the whole world say
Scotland – you are welcome any day
Scotland – the lion roars with pride
Scotland the tartan army's by your side
We have walked a million miles leaving memories of a million smiles
Scotland – the lion roars with pride
How can ye stand and look so proud over this lovely land-
the glen where I spent my childhood that was farmed by my father's hand?
Where he took me out to hunt the hills and fish the Golspie Burn
And he taught me God gave us this home to which I never can return.
Stafford you broke my heart when you shipped us all away
“You are off to a land of plenty” I heard you say
and we will work and sweat to build a new land young and free
but it's Scottish blood that fills these veins and my heart will always be
In the auld land where the thistle grows and the rain comes pouring down
On the ruins of our houses that only sheep now roam around
Down the paths of my fathers, o'er the dreams of my clan
I may be many miles across the sea but she's still my auld land
You are not of my country but took Sutherland as your bride
And you sit down there in London town where you cannot hear my people cry.
What kind of man enjoys his wine while his orders are applied
As our houses burn in the drifting snow and our children freeze and die
Stafford you broke my heart when you shipped us all away
To this world of plenty and a better day
Where we have worked with pride and built a new land strong and free
But it's Scottish blood that fills these veins and my heart will always be
In the auld land where the thistle grows and the rain comes pouring down
On the ruins of our houses that only sheep now roam around
O'er the graves of my fathers, the dreams of my clan
I may be many miles across the sea but she's still my auld land
Your money and power destroyed our ways but she's still my auld land.
It's faded and it's torn and the varnish has long gone
It's just a piece of junk that should be thrown away.
But something in my heart made me tear it off the cart
Before the binmen took the other stuff away
They have cleared the old mans home and the dozers have moved in
And very soon there will be just a pile of stones.
As I turned with misty eyes, it was then I realised
This was the only thing I had that he'd owned
It sat beside the fire and it was his alone
And in the evenings there he'd rest his weary bones
And he'd take me on his knee and sometimes he'd sing to me
Till I'd sleep there in the old man's chair
When the work came to an end, there was precious little spare
But I still remember when he built my first guitar
Though it would never play in tune, I was over the moon
Just a young boy with a toy made from love
It sat beside the fire and it was his alone
And in the evenings there he'd rest his weary bones
I'd climb upon his knee and sometimes he'd sing to me
and I felt safe there in my old man's chair
But the ambitions of youth turned me blind
To all the treasures I had left behind.
I got wrapped up in myself never thinking of my home
by the time I found my senses he had gone.
Now it sits beside my fire though it's faded and it's torn
And in the evenings there I rest my weary bones
With my son upon my knee I dream contentedly
In that same old chair where my father dreamed the same dreams for me
We are the soil, we are the trees on the hills,
The birds in the air, the fish in the pools.
From ages past we've come to dust we'll return.
In birth, life and death, we are this land
that we call home. We are the fire and the stone,
the warm summer breeze and the mighty seas.
We are the legends, the songs, the blood and the bones,
the snow and the rain, the dreams and the pain
And if I should die somewhere away from here,
bring me home to lie in Scotia 's fields
where I've been blessed just to be their keeper for a while.
Now as I pass them to my sons –to the soil I return
Good morning my friend. You do not stand here alone
But it warms our old hearts that you've come to kneel beside this stone
Where brave Frasers fell on that day sent from hell
When they snuffed out our flame
-But in you, today I see, it flickers once again.
A flame that roars the cry of freedom as we hold it to the sky
With a thousand years of Scottish souls each one holding high
freedom's flame in Scotland's name – hold it high, hold it high
as long as there remain one hundred our flame will never die.
We came here not knowing how we'd feel among these stones
Just to lay some sprigs of heather for those brave men long gone
But as the teardrops fall, on the wind we hear a call
“For Scotland! For Scotland!” and a burning pride engulfs us all
Never comes the day when I don't think about that moor
Or other fields of battle that are scattered o'er this world
Where young Scotsmen lie called before their time
But they did not die in vain for each one carries freedoms flame.
An Australian came to town one day and he brought a film crew
Said, “ You’ve got a story here. I’ll tell you what I’ll do.
I’m gonna take this man called Wallace and I’m gonna spread his fame
And very soon the whole wide world will know your hero’s name.”
So he talked to the historians of battles that were won
And how that day at Stirling Bridge we made the English run
Then he talked to all his money men and it seems they had their way
‘cos they made the film in Ireland so now I’ve got to say
“Where’s the river Mel? Won’t you stand here with me?
Look down from Stirling Castle, tell me what’s that you see?
That’s a river Mel and it’s where it’s always been
So how come there’s no trace of it upon your silver screen”?
We fought hand to hand to save our land, it was hot and sweaty work
When the English come we bared our bums, we did not give a f………..oot.
Then we turned back to the water’s edge to wash off all the gore
But it’s hard to bathe in a river that ain’t there anymore
Where’s……………..
Well they called the film Braveheart and it was loads of fun
It wisnae much like history but at least we still won
Now the tourists come from o’er the world to gaze down on this place
But as they look out to the monument there’s surprise upon their face
Cos there’s a river Mel and its where it’s always been
So how come there’s no trace of it upon your silver screen
Aye that’s oor river Mel – the real battlescene,
where Wallace sent them homeward to think again
So if you ever get to thinking that Bannockburn could be a theme
Please remember Mel “burn” is Scottish for a stream.
I hought I’d done it all and been there,
knew the thoughts in others’ heads,
understood the feelings in the laughter they shared
I thought I’d seen the highs,
was so sure I knew the lows,
but you opened up my senses in a way I’d never known.
With your first small cry you changed my life
I felt my heart grow inside me
Now I’m flying with the eagles I’ve a different view
Of what matters in life
and it’s all because of you
I have climbed majestic mountains
watched the mighty rivers flow
felt the warmth of summer sunshine and the chill of winter snow
Mother Nature’s great creations
are there for all to see
But the greatest of her glories is the one she just gave to me
So now I give you my shoulder to cry on
My ears to listen to your cares
I’ll always be there if you just need a hug
And for the rest of my life
I’ll give you the best of my love.
Never felt such admiration
Never felt such pride
Never been so nervous
I just sat and watched and cried
as your dear mother went through the sweetest pain of all
I’d never felt so helpless – then I heard your call
And with that first small cry you changed my life
felt my heart grow inside me
I thank God for your precious breath
And I ask him now to guide me
Who will stand and be one of a hundred? who will fight for what is truly right?
And tomorrow be able to walk free and tall and tell your children you answered the call.
Ma faither died wi’ Murray at the brig o’er the Forth
At Bannockburn I lost my eldest son
So I will fight for three men to hold what they have won
When Scotland needs a hundred, I will be one.
I will stand and be one of a hundred
I will fight for what is surely right
And tomorrow I’ll be able to walk free and tall
And tell my children I answered the call
Frae the north east I come wi’ the pride of my clan
And we’ll meet wi’ the men frae the west
And join many guid friends on the lowland plains
And those proud border men who stand guard ower the south.
We fight not for honour or glory
For in killing a man there is none
And we fight not for riches or to conquer
But for the love of our country and freedom alone.
but if under the saltire I should fall, tell my children I answered the call
My name is Andrew de Moray and the north is rising
To tak back oor country for those that belang
Carry this letter to Wallis o Ellerslie
Tae tell him,for Scotland, he disna fecht alane
So gie me twa braw men and tak yir fastest horses
Godspeed tae the south and let The Wallace know
That high ower Avoch oor banner is flying
When we’ve won back the north, we’ll join him at the Forth
They came in their thousands and thocht that they wid crush us
But brave hearts stood and sent them tae hell
This wound will soon kill me but my final breath I give
Knowing all men die, but I really lived
Scotland, dear Scotland the north didna fail ye
Though many lie here in their final rest
I remember yir words the first time I met ye
O’ a’ things ma freend – freedom is best.
So gies yir hand guid William for noo I must leave ye
Here at Stirling Brig this was oor finest hour
Long centuries frae now Scotsmen will staun here
And fur the bluid beneath their feet jist say a wee prayer
To remember Andrew Murray and the proud north rising.
The cauld winter wind blows snow through the air
but wrapped up and warm the little children don't care.
No mothers's goodbye kiss could ever foresee
the pain of the chill that would fall on the bairns o' Dunblane
The Allanwater flows swollen from the late winter rain
Through the broken heart of the town like a permanent stain
From the tears of the world that could fill it all again
Tears that were shed for the bairns o' Dunblane
Who can comprehend taking the life of a child
but sixteen bloody times a five year old died
he brought hell to Dunblane, now to hell he is damned
for there are somethings that even God can't understand
The whole community shattered that somehow must go on
with scars that will not fade as the years turn
when the Laighills turn yellow with the flowers of the broom again
remember spring never came for the bairns o' Dunblane |
