"The Thistle oâ Scotland" () was originally called "The Badge of Scotland" (Bràiste h-Alba) but it is more commonly known as "The Thistle o' Scotland".
Malcolm MacFarlane (1853-1931) translated this song from the Scottish Gaelic of Evan MacColl (1808-1898). It was first published in Macfarlane's book, Songs of the Highlands, Inverness: Logan & Company, 1902, pp. 44âÂÂ45. The accompaniment was by Frederick Wilson Whitehead (1863-1926). It is considered by some to be a possible national anthem for Scotland. A spirited rendition of this song by Ina Miller can be found here.
(As translated by Malcolm MacFarlane)
Chorus<br/> O, the Thistle oâ Scotland was famous of auld,<br /> Wiâ its toorie sae snod and its bristles sae bauld;<br /> âÂÂTis the badge oâ my country â it's aye dear to me;<br /> And the thocht oâ them baith brings the licht to my eâÂÂe.<br />
<big>Suaicheantas na h-Alba</big><br/> (The original Gaelic version by Evan MacColl)<br />
Seisd<br> âÂÂS e Fòghnan na h-Alba lus ainmeil nam buadh;<br/> Lus grinn nan dos calgach thug dearbh air bhi cruaidh;<br/> Sean-suaicheantas mòrail tir bhòidhich mo luaidh:<br/> âÂÂS tric dhâÂÂfhadaich a dheagh-chliù teinâÂÂ-éibhinnâÂÂnam ghruaidh.<br/>
Its strength and its beauty the storm never harms;<br /> It stan's on its guard like a warrior in arms;<br /> Yet its down is saft as the gull's on the sea,<br /> And its tassle as bricht as my Jeanie's blue eâÂÂe.<br /> O, The Thistle, etc.<br/>
Lus deas nam meur cròcach nach leònar le stoirm; <br /> Ged âÂÂs ionann teachd geàrr air âÂÂs laoch dàna fo airm, <br /> âÂÂS leis clòimh tha cho maoth-gheal ri faoileig na tràigh, <br /> âÂÂS bàrr-ghucan cho ciùin-ghorm ri sùilean mo ghràidh. <br /> âÂÂS e Fòghnan, etc. <br />
O, my country, what wonder yer fameâÂÂs gane afar;<br /> For yer sons haâÂÂe been great baith in peace and in war:<br /> While the sang and the tale live theyâÂÂll aye win respect,<br /> The lads neath the bonnets wiâ thistles bedeckt.<br /> O, The Thistle, etc.<br/>
Mo dhùthaich, cha âÂÂn ioghnadh mòr chliù air thighâÂÂnn uait, <br /> âÂÂS a liuthad duaidh-làraich âÂÂs deagh ghnàth tha ris fuaightâÂÂ; <br /> An cian is le Albainn luchd seanachais no bard, <br /> Bidh meas air an dealbh anns gach gorm-bhonaid àird. <br /> âÂÂS e Fòghnan, etc.
Langsyne the invaders cam owre to our shore,<br /> And fiercely our thistle they scotched and they tore;<br /> When they maist thocht it deid, âÂÂtwas then it up bore,<br /> And it bloomed on their graves quite as strong as before.<br /> O, The Thistle, etc.<br/>
Sluagh borb, le droch rùn da, âÂÂs tric bhrùchd air a nuas; <br /> âÂÂS tric bhrùchd, ach, gun taing dhoibh, a cheann chum e suas; <br /> âÂÂNuair shaoil iad bhi buadhach, âÂÂs ann fhuair iad fath bròin: <br /> Feuch! aâ cinn thar an uaighean an cluaran gun leòn. <br /> âÂÂS e Fòghnan, etc.
My blessings be yours! Is there Scotsman ava<br /> Wad stanâ by and see ony harm on ye faâÂÂ?<br /> Is there gentle or semple wha lives in our land<br /> Wad refuse to drink health to the thistle so grand?<br /> O, The Thistle, etc.<br/>
Mo bheannachd gu bràth air! có âÂÂn Gaidheal no âÂÂn Gall<br /> Nach seasadh gu bàs e, gâÂÂa theàrnadh o chall! <br /> Co ìosal no uasal, bheir cluas do mo dhàn, <br /> Nach òladh leam âÂÂbuaidh leisâ o chuachana làn! <br /> âÂÂS e Fòghnan, etc.