Scotland the Brave

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Alba an Àigh

English: Scotland the Brave
Unofficial anthem of  Scotland
Lyrics	Cliff Hanley (unofficial), 1950
Music	Traditional
Published	1870s
Audio sample
"Scotland the Brave" (instrumental) file help

"Scotland the Brave" (Scottish Gaelic: Alba an Àigh) is a Scottish patriotic song, one of three often considered an unofficial Scottish national anthem (the others being "Flower of Scotland", and "Scots Wha Hae").

The tune probably originated in the late 19th century.^[1] The earliest known printing of the tune was in the Utah Musical Bouquet, January 1878, and the earliest known version printed in Scotland is in The National Choir, 1891.^[2]

The lyrics commonly used now were written about 1950 by Scottish journalist Clifford Leonard Clark "Cliff" Hanley for singer Robert Wilson as part of an arrangement by Marion McClurg. Another set of lyrics also often heard were sung by Canadian singer John Charles McDermott; they are closely based on the poem "Let Italy Boast" by James Hyslop, which was first published in 1821 in The Edinburgh Magazine. However, Hyslop intended his poem to be sung to the melody of Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford, 1st Baronet's "Boat Song" from "The Lady of the Lake" and not "Scotland the Brave".

"Scotland the Brave" is also the authorised pipe band march of the British Columbia Dragoons of the Canadian Armed Forces.^[3]

"Scotland the Brave" was played before matches involving the Scottish national football team at the 1982, 1986, and 1990 FIFA World Cups.^[4][5][6][7] "Flower of Scotland" was subsequently adopted by Scotland for use at FIFA-sponsored events, after its usage by the Scottish rugby union team.^[7]

In June 2006, the song rated second in an online poll with more than 10,000 votes to determine Scotland's favourite unofficial anthem, losing only to "Flower of Scotland".^[8] The song was used to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Games until it was replaced by "Flower of Scotland" from the 2010 games onwards.^[9]

This section may contain excessive or irrelevant examples. Please help improve the article by adding descriptive text and removing less pertinent examples. (May 2021)

• In the 1968 movie The Devil's Brigade, composer Alex North uses the melody as the beginning for the opening theme, and with variations, throughout the film score; the song is played by the bagpipers of the Canadian component of the 1st Special Service Force when they march into Fort William Henry Harrison to the disbelief of their US counterparts.^{[citation needed]}
• In the 1970 movie Patton, the British Eighth Army, led by General Montgomery, marches through the streets of Messina to "Scotland the Brave" until they encounter General Patton's US Seventh Army. After a short exchange between the two commanders, the British band strikes up "Scotland the Brave" again, only for it to be symbolically drowned out by the American band playing "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymn "Praise to the Man" is set to the tune of "Scotland the Brave".^[10][11]
• The song is often played on bagpipes at New York Police Department funerals.
• Pro wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper used the song as his entrance music throughout his career until 1986. He also performed the song on the bagpipes, alongside the Balmoral Highlanders, at WWF's SummerSlam '92 held in Wembley Stadium.
• Dorothy the Dinosaur dances to this song in The Wiggles' 1997 videotape Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas.
• The first verse and chorus of Hanley's version are sung a cappella in Stuart Ross' 1990 musical movie Forever Plaid.
• The Scottish ITV television station Grampian Television used the first eight notes of the song in its logo identifications (or "idents") during its first three decades of broadcasting.^{[citation needed]}
• In the video game Holdfast: Nations At War, the song can be played by players as a British Empire bagpiper.
• The University of Chicago alma mater is sung to the tune of Scotland the Brave during graduations with the university's bagpipe corps leading the processional.
• The 2009 single "Irish Celebration" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis samples the melody of Scotland the Brave.

• Media related to Scotland the Brave at Wikimedia Commons
• The full text of Scotland the Brave at Wikisource