After beginning his career with the Rothesay Entertainers in Scotland, Wilson joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, with whom he performed from 1931 to 1937.
He then began a long solo career in concerts, radio, variety and recording, becoming known especially for his performances of Scottish songs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wilson_(tenor)
Scotland the Brave
Robert Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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.
Towering in gallant fame,
Scotland my mountain hame,
High may your proud standards, Gloriously wave,
Land of my high endeavour,
Land of the shining rivers,
Land of my heart for ever,
Scotland the brave.
High in the misty Highlands,
Out by the purple islands,
Brave are the hearts that beat
Beneath Scottish skies.
Wild are the winds to meet you,
Staunch are the friends that greet you,
Kind as the love that shines
from fair maidens' eyes.
Far off in sunlit places,
Sad are the Scottish faces,
Yearning to feel the kiss
Of sweet Scottish rain.
Where tropic skies are beaming,
Love sets the heart a-dreaming,
Longing and dreaming for the homeland again.
Robert Wilson's song "Scotland the Brave" is an ode to the resilience and strength of the Scottish people. The song describes the wild and rugged beauty of the highlands, expressed through a series of vivid images and metaphors. The first verse declares the arrival of darkness, followed by the unmistakable sound of bagpipes echoing through the valley, calling forth the brave Highlanders. The second verse speaks of the towering mountains of Scotland, acting as a proud symbol for the Scottish people. The song also mentions the shining rivers of Scotland, which add to its natural beauty, making the land an ideal home for its inhabitants.
The third verse speaks of the misty highlands and purple islands, which are known for their beauty and natural grandeur. The song emphasizes the bravery of the Scottish people, who have endured harsh weather and conditions, both on land and on sea. The winds are wild, but the hearts of the people are stronger still. The voices of their loved ones and the beauty of their land drive them forward, through all kinds of adversity.
The final verse describes the Scottish diaspora, which has spread across the world. While many Scots long for their homeland and the kiss of its sweet rain, they find love and hope wherever they go. However, their hearts never forget the rugged beauty of their homeland and they dream of returning one day to breathe in its magic again.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark when the night is falling
Listen, as the night is ending
Hear! hear the pipes are calling,
Listen closely for the sound of the bagpipes
Loudly and proudly calling,
The pipes are calling with a sense of pride
Down through the glen.
Echoing through the valley below.
There where the hills are sleeping,
Where the mountains are still and resting
Now feel the blood a-leaping,
Feel the energy and excitement running through your veins
High as the spirits of the old Highland men.
The excitement feels just like the brave and proud ancestors who hailed from the Highlands
Towering in gallant fame,
Standing tall with glory and honor
Scotland my mountain hame,
The mountains of Scotland are my true home
High may your proud standards, Gloriously wave,
May Scotland always have a flag that proudly waves in the wind
Land of my high endeavour,
Scotland is where I strive to achieve greatness
Land of the shining rivers,
Scotland is home to beautiful and shimmering rivers
Land of my heart for ever,
Scotland is the land that will own my heart forever
Scotland the brave.
A country known for its fearless bravery
High in the misty Highlands,
Deep in the foggy mountains of Scotland
Out by the purple islands,
Out near the islands that are a shade of purple in the distance
Brave are the hearts that beat
Scotland is home to fiercely courageous people
Beneath Scottish skies.
Living life under the beautiful Scottish sky
Wild are the winds to meet you,
The gusts of wind can be unpredictable in Scotland
Staunch are the friends that greet you,
The Scottish people are loyal and steadfast to their friends
Kind as the love that shines from fair maidens' eyes.
The affectionate love of a Scottish woman is like the warm light in her eyes
Far off in sunlit places,
In distant, vibrant lands filled with sunlight
Sad are the Scottish faces,
The faces of Scots show sadness because they cannot feel the joy of Scotland near them
Yearning to feel the kiss, Of sweet Scottish rain.
Longing to feel the gentle rain of Scotland on their faces
Where tropic skies are beaming,
Where the sun shines brightly in the tropics
Love sets the heart a-dreaming,
The emotion of love causes dreams to take over our hearts
Longing and dreaming for the homeland again.
Yearning and dreaming to come back home to Scotland
Writer(s): Cliff Hanley, Marion Mcclurg
Contributed by Hannah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@zytigon
I like the rain sometimes and I can appreciate that after some weeks in the baking sun it can be nice to get back to cool mist and rain but here is my parody:
Far off in sunlit places,
Glad are the Scottish faces,
Enjoying a break from the pissing
Of cold Scottish rain.
Where tropic skies are beaming,
Love sets the heart a-dreaming,
Dreading the returning to the homeland again.
@johnblahuta6904
Scotland forever!!!! Greetings from Hawai'i...
@charlesbrown3644
Best marching tune ever written I stand every time I hear it , like I do for the Star Spangled Banner
@hairydog62
home sweet home
@alba7519
🏴🏴🏴🏴
@miguelurrestarazu7903
Gran canción que nos enseñó el brother Emon ¨Chato¨ O´Donell en el Christian Brothers de Uruguay, que en paz descanse. Que lindos recuerdos de la infancia.
@justachannel9379
And now I hear the song. I read about it many years ago when I read the book Report from Engine Co. 82 by Dennis Smith. Smith, an Irish-American, described his St. Patrick's Day activities. One was to play a set of pipes for his neighbors, from whom he would take requests. Then there's a request to play Scotland the Brave. And Smith responds, "Not today."
@kirsty5557
Thanks for this. As a serial expat kid with two Scottish parents, this is the version I grew up with and which helped connect me and my siblings to 'home' when we couldn't be in Scotland. I totally do not get or identify with the Italy-bashing version (I love Italy - lived in Milan for years as a teen), so I'm very happy to be able to hear a great rendition of the song with its traditional Scottish lyrics! Scotland has more than plenty to be proud of and happy about, without tearing any other country down.
@gp_fan
You do not understand, because you are an idiot.
@gjm1953
+Kirsty Ever since I saw a video on YT with John McDermott singing about how Italy sucks, I've wondered why a proud country would need to cut down another land. Now that I've heard this version, I must say that I agree with you wholeheartedly. I don't get it, either. The lyrics in this version are quite stirring.
@SourCrumpets
This Is My Favourite Version So Far, I've Heard This And The John McDermott Version. Great Upload!