'Scotland the Brave' Commemorative Strike

The patriotic song 'Scotland the Brave', with its blend of traditional Scottish music and its inspiring lyrics, captured the hearts of the Scottish.

It was originally an instrumental piece of music, traditionally played on the bagpipes and drums, and is the regimental quick march of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. It is probably the most famous of all bagpipe tunes, and its stirring sound immediately evokes memories of Scotland. The lyrics were written in the 1950s by journalist Cliff Hanley, who wrote it for Robert Wilson as a musical finale for his show at the Glasgow Empire Theatre. The heartfelt lyrics extolled the beauty of the Scottish highlands and praised the bravery of its warriors. It touched the hearts and stirred the souls of the Scottish people, and proved to be immensely popular. This patriotic song became a much loved unofficial national anthem, often to be heard sung with passion and pride in the Scottish football stands.