Scots Wha Hae

Above is a modern, and yet staid and dignified "unplugged" vocal version of the Robert Burns poem sung by The Corries...

and here is a leather-and-kilt bagpipe punk rock version sung by The Real McKenzies.

The longevity of not only the poem and its resilience in song, but also its memorialization of history, is a tribute to the Scottish character and culture - whether highland or lowland, highbrow or lowbrow, whether the word "tattoo" conjures up notions of military drums or of inked skin.

One thing Scots and descendants of Scots value is independence and to be left alone. And this is essentially the meaning of "liberty."

Below are the lyrics, courtesy of Wikipedia:

Original lyrics in Scots 'Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled, Scots, wham Bruce has aften led, Welcome tae yer gory bed, Or tæ Victory.	English translation 'Scots, who have with Wallace bled, Scots, whom Bruce has often led, Welcome to your gory bed Or to victory.
'Now's the day, and now's the hour: See the front o' battle lour, See approach proud Edward's power - Chains and Slavery.	'Now is the day, and now is the hour: See the front of battle lower (threaten), See approach proud Edward's power - Chains and slavery.
'Wha will be a traitor knave? Wha will fill a coward's grave? Wha sæ base as be a slave? Let him turn and flee.	'Who will be a traitor knave? Who will fill a coward's grave? Who's so base as be a slave? - Let him turn, and flee.
'Wha, for Scotland's king and law, Freedom's sword will strongly draw, Freeman stand, or Freeman fa', Let him follow me.	'Who for Scotland's King and Law Freedom's sword will strongly draw, Freeman stand or freeman fall, Let him follow me.
'By Oppression's woes and pains, By your sons in servile chains! We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free.	'By oppression's woes and pains, By your sons in servile chains, We will drain our dearest veins But they shall be free.
'Lay the proud usurpers low, Tyrants fall in every foe, Liberty's in every blow! - Let us do or dee.	'Lay the proud usurpers low, Tyrants fall in every foe, Liberty is in every blow, Let us do or die!'