Tuesday 25 January 2011

In time for Robbie Burns Day; "Scots Wha Hae" lyrics translated

"Scots Wha Hae" ~ The unofficial Scottish national anthem, written by Robbie Burns in the Scots Leid. Translates as "Scots Who Have" in English.
BTW the Gaelic translation of title is "Brosnachadh Bhruis" which is not a literal translation, "Bhruis" is the Gaelic version of "Bruce" and "brosnachadh" basically means "war cry".

a) SCOTS WHA HAE (in Scots)
"Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome tæ yer gory bed,
Or tæ victorie.

Now's the day, and now's the hour:
See the front o' battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and Slavery.

Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha will fill a coward's grave?
Wha sæ base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee.

Wha, for Scotland's king and law,
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or Freeman fa',
Let him on wi me.

By Oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free.

Lay the proud usurpers low,
Tyrants fall in every foe,
Liberty's in every blow! -
Let us do or dee."

b) SCOTS WHA HAE (in English)
"Scots, who have with Wallace bled,
Scots, whom Bruce has often led,
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victory.

Now is the day, and now is the hour:
See the front of battle lower,
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and slavery.

Who will be a traitor knave?
Who will fill a coward's grave?
Who's so base as be a slave? -
Let him turn, and flee.

Who for Scotland's King and Law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand or freeman fall,
Let him follow me.

By oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest veins
But they shall be free.

Lay the proud usurpers low,
Tyrants fall in every foe,
Liberty is in every blow,
Let us do or die!"

c) "BROSNACHADH BHRUIS" (in Gaelic)
"Albannaich a chail ur fuil
Fo'n laoch Uallas'us fo Bhrus,
Failt' do shuain ur bais an duigh,
No do bhuidhinn stri.

Feuch an latha, so an uair,
Faicaibh gnuis a bhlair fo ghruaim,
Feachd righ Eideard teachd le uaill,
'S geimhlean cruaidhe dhuinn.

Co bhiodh iudasach sa chath,
Co'n uaigh gealtair a bhiodh taisgt',
Co a bhiodh na thraill fo smachd,
Teich gu grad 's na till.

Co as leth tir aird an fhraoich,
Thairneas claidheamh treun na saors',
Le'n fhearr bas na geill' do h-aon,
Thig do'n raon leam fhein.

Le gach truaighe fuaight' ri' daors',
Le cuing thruaillidh cloinn ar gaoil,
Doirteamid ar fuil na taom,
Ach sar shaor bidh sinn.

Sgriosaibh na Sr-foirnidh dhan,
Tuitidh aintighearna 's gach namh,
Anns gach beum tha saors' an aigh,
Buaidh no bas biodh leinn!"

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