I haven't written a diary here in years, but in following the run-up to the historic vote taking place in Bonnie Scotland this week, a comment from some responder to an opinion piece mentioned that a Scot had penned "Rule Britannia", called by Wikipedia a "national air" of England. That prompted me to compare the lyrics of that song to the lyrics of "Scotland The Brave", an equally cited nationalistic anthem of Scotland. Both these songs are unabashedly patriotic, and each moves me strongly, to the point of raising the hackles on my neck as the chorus of "Rule Britannia" rises to a crescendo, and as the haunting revery of the pipes in "Scotland The Brave" echoes the call of freedom and home to generations of Scots. Possessing a healthy quantity of both English AND Scottish blood, but perhaps wistfully hoping the larger quantity is Scots, I found the lyrics seemed to reflect my experiences, feelings,and yes, my stereotypes of both countries.
Here are some excerpts from each:
When Britain fi-i-irst, at heaven's command,
Aro-o-o-ose from out the a-a-a-zure main,
Arose, arose, arose from out the a-azure main,
This was the charter, the charter of the land,
And guardian a-a-angels sang this strain:
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
and:
Hark! When the night is falling
Hear, Hear! the pipes are calling,
Loudly and proudly calling, down through the glen.
There where the hills are sleeping,
Now feel the blood a-leaping,
High as the spirits of the old Highland men.
Chorus
(Towering in gallant fame,
Scotland my mountain hame,
High may your proud standards gloriously wave,
Land of my high endeavour,
Land of the shining river,
Land of my heart for ever, Scotland the brave.)
To me, the lyrics of "Rule Britannia" are imperialistic, arrogantly ignoring their enslavement of much of the world as they proudly boast their own freedom. By contrast, "Scotland The Brave" is nationalistic in another way entirely, a wistful romantic longing for home and a pride of country and clan.
Maybe I am comparing apples to oranges, and many other such songs could the chosen at random to compare, but these two seem to be the most used and celebrated (maybe stereotypically, I'll admit) by people inside England and Scotland to reflect their national pride, and also by the world to get a sense of both countries.
What say ye, lassies and lads? Am I off-kilter here? Any thoughts and comments on the historic vote also welcomed here.
