Freedom Come-All-Ye

The "Freedom Come-All-Ye" (Scottish Gaelic: Thig Saorsa Uile) is a Scots language socialist and anti-imperialist song written by Hamish Henderson in 1960.

One of Henderson's most important songs, it presents a non-romantic view of the role of the Scots in the world at the time it was written. It describes a wind of change blowing through Scotland and the world, sweeping away exploitation and imperialism. It renounces the tradition of the Scottish soldier both as imperial cannon-fodder and colonial oppressor, mourning the loss of youth sent to harry foreign nations, and looks to a future society which is multiracial and just.

History

An early two-stanza version of the song was published in a broadsheet "Writers against Aparthied" (sic) in the Spring of 1960;[1] as the first line refers to Harold Macmillan's Wind of Change speech,[2] given in February of that year, the composition can be dated quite precisely. Henderson was recorded singing the complete 3-stanza version of the song that year.[3]

The song's tune is an adaptation of the First World War pipe march "The Bloody Fields of Flanders", composed by John McLellan DCM (Dunoon),[4] which Henderson first heard played on the Anzio beachhead. He wrote the lyrics after discussions with Ken Goldstein, an American researcher at the School of Scottish Studies, who had enjoyed Henderson's rendition of the tune.[5] It was subsequently adopted by Glasgow Peace Marcher CND demonstrators and the anti-Polaris campaign (for example, notably at the anti-Polaris protests at Holy Loch in 1961).

A product of the Scottish folk revival, and originally a 1960s protest song,[6] it is still popular in Scotland and overseas, especially as an anthem of Scottish Socialists.[7] Henderson described the song as "expressing my hopes for Scotland, and for the survival of humanity on this beleaguered planet.".[8] It has been suggested as choice for a Scottish national anthem (although there is no official Scottish anthem), though Henderson felt that part of its strength lies in the fact that it is an alternative, "International Anthem".[5]

A version of the song was performed by South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.[9][10]

References
  1. "Hamish Henderson Archive Trust - Photos". Facebook. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  2. Gaughan, Dick. "Freedom Come Aa Ye". Dick Gaughan's Website. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  3. "Tobar an Dualchais - Freedom Come-All-Ye". Tobar an Dualchais.
  4. "Tune History - The Bloody Fields of Flanders" (PDF). Schoolofpiping.com. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  5. Heywood, Pete (April 1999). "Hamish Henderson". The Living Tradition (feature article). No. 32. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  6. Harvie, Christopher (1998). No Gods and Precious Few Heroes: Twentieth-century Scotland. p. 16. ISBN 9780748609994.
  7. Spirits of the Age: Scottish Self Portraits. The Saltire Society. 2005. p. 145. ISBN 9780854110872.
  8. "Motions, Questions and Answers Search - Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament". Scottish.parliament.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  9. Hugh Macdonald. "The Games opens: a ceremony of gallusness with a powerful charity theme". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  10. Dickie, Mure (24 July 2014). "Glasgow humour on show as Commonwealth Games open". Retrieved 27 July 2014.
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