Rugby fans first adopted it for the Lions tour of South Africa in 1974, and the Scottish FA also adopted it in 1997 as the official football anthem.

The song refers to the victory of the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, over the English, under Edward II, at Bannockburn in 1314.

The last two lines of each verse tend to be sung with particular ferocity.

Flower of Scotland

O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward's army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

The hills are bare now,
And autumn leaves
lie thick and still,
O'er land that is lost now,
Which those so dearly held,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

Those days are past now,
And in the past
they must remain,
But we can still rise now,
And be the nation again,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

0 Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.