University of Virginia Library

The Flowers of Scotland.

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Air—“The Blue Bells of Scotland.”

What are the flowers of Scotland,
All others that excel?
The lovely flowers of Scotland,
All others that excel?—
The thistle's purple bonnet,
And bonnie heather bell,
Oh they're the flowers of Scotland
All others that excel!
Though England eyes her roses,
With pride she'll ne'er forego,
The rose has oft been trodden
By foot of haughty foe;
But the thistle in her bonnet blue,
Still nods outow'r the fell;
And dares the proudest foeman
To tread the heather bell?
For the wee bit leaf o' Ireland,
Alack and well-a-day!
For ilka hand is free to pu'
An' steal the gem away:
But the thistle in her bonnet blue
Still bobs aboon them a';
At her the bravest darena blink,
Or gie his mou a thraw.
Up wi' the flowers o' Scotland,
The emblems o' the free!
Their guardians for a thousand years,
Their guardians still we'll be.

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A foe had better brave the deil
Within his reeky cell,
Than our thistle's purple bonnet,
Or bonnie heather bell.