The People Speak: Hamish Henderson ‘Freedom Come-All-ye’ (1960)
Roch the wind in the clear day’s dawin
Blaws the cloods heelster-gowdie ow’r the bay
But there’s mair nor a roch wind blawin
Thro the great glen o the warld the day
It’s a thocht that wad gar oor rottans
Aa thae rogues that gang gallus fresh an gay
Tak the road an seek ither loanins
Wi thair ill-ploys tae sport an play
Nae mair will our bonnie callants
Mairch tae war when oor braggarts crousely craw
Nor wee weans frae pit-heid an clachan
Mourn the ships sailin doon the Broomielaw
Broken faimlies in lands we’ve herriet
Will curse ‘Scotlan the Brave’ nae mair, nae mair
Black an white ane til ither mairriet
Mak the vile barracks o their maisters bare
So come a’ ye at hame wi freedom
Never heed whit the houdies croak for doom
In yer hoose a’ the bairns o Adam
Can find breid, barley-bree an painted room
When Maclean meets wi’s friens in Springburn
Aa the roses an geans will turn tae bloom
An a black boy frae yont Nyanga
Dings the fell gallows o the burghers doon.