Freedom Come All Ye - Dick Gaughan video free download

Dick Gaughan's wonderful rendition of Hamish Henderson's masterpiece. Dick may be singing with '5 Hand Reel'.

The picture shows Dick receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 at the BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards

Firstly the original lyrics in Scots and then in English

Roch the win i the clear day's dawin

Blaws the clouds heilster-gowdie owre the bay

But thair's mair nor a roch win blawin

Thro the Great Glen o the warl the day

It's a thocht that wad gar our 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

Merch tae war whan our braggarts crousely craw

Nor wee weans frae pitheid an clachan

Murn the ships sailin doun the Broomielaw

Broken faimilies in launs we've hairriet

Will curse 'Scotlan the Brave' nae mair, nae mair

Black an white ane-til-ither mairriet

Mak the vile barracks o thair maisters bare

Sae come aa ye at hame wi freedom

Never heed whit the houdies croak for Doom

In yer hous aa the bairns o Aidam

Will fin breid, barley-bree an paintit room

Whan MacLean meets wi's friens in Springburn

Aa thae roses an geeans will turn tae blume

An a black laud frae yont Nyanga

Dings the fell gallows o the burghers doun.

Whan MacLean meets wi's friens in Springburn

Aa thae roses an geeans will turn tae blume

An a black laud frae yont Nyanga

Dings the fell gallows o the burghers doun.

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English translation

It's a rough wind in the clear day's dawning

Blows the clouds head-over-heels across the bay

But there's more than a rough wind blowing

Through the Great Glen of the world today

It's a thought that would make our rodents,

All those rogues who strut and swagger,

Take the road and seek other pastures

To carry out their wicked schemes

No more will our fine young men

March to war at the behest of jingoists and imperialists

Nor will young children from mining communities and rural hamlets

Mourn the ships sailing off down the River Clyde

Broken families in lands we've helped to oppress

Will never again have reason to curse the sound of advancing Scots

Black and white, united in friendship and marriage,

Will make the slums of the employers bare

So come all ye who love freedom

Pay no attention to the prophets of doom

In your house all the children of Adam

Will be welcomed with food, drink and clean bright accommodation

When MacLean returns to his people

All the roses and cherry trees will blossom

And the black guy from Nyanga

Will break the capitalist stranglehold on everyone's life

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