Scotland's national anthem at the EM 2021: It's actually just the unofficial song

It belongs in sport: the national anthem.

In the case of Scotland, however, it is not an official song that will be used in the 2021 European Championship.

Glasgow - The national anthem: It is a welcome guest, especially at sports events.

Before football games, it often gives you goose bumps - both for the players and fans in the stadium and for the spectators on the TV sets.

At the EM 2021, of course, especially because: For the first time in a long time, the arenas are at least partially filled again.

Some nations feel that the national anthem has a greater meaning than anywhere else in the world.

And it is definitely the same on the island.

The British and Irish are known as music lovers anyway.

They especially like to sing in the stadium, which is where the first fan chants were written.

In the case of Scotland, the national anthem has a completely different scope.

Because the song that is sung at the EM, for example, is actually not the country's official anthem at all.

Scotland's official national anthem is actually "God Save the Queen"

As the?

It is relatively simple to explain: Scotland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

There the anthem for all citizens is “God Save the Queen” - the song that the English national soccer team sings before their games.

But now it has become common practice that other British countries like Scotland sing their own song on festive occasions.

And that's why the Scottish “hymn” is a bit more modern and melodic.

Because the song comes from the Scottish folk band "The Corries" from the 1960s.

The song was subsequently discovered by rugby fans and used again and again as a "substitute anthem" to give their own team more independence.

After all, that was also the express wish of the players.

Footballers have been singing their own anthem since 1997.

Anyone who knows the proud Scots knows: They love their country - and have always fought for it.

This is what the text of "Flower of Scotland", the unofficial Scottish national anthem, is about:

EM 2021: Scotland's national anthem - text by "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.

Those days are past now,

And in the past

They must remain,

But we can still rise now,

To be the nation again,

That stood against him,

Proud Edward's Army,

And sent him homeward,

Tae think again.

In German:

O blossom of Scotland,

When shall we

see

your kind

again,

Who

fought and died,

For your little bit of hill and valley;

And defied

proud Edward's army,

And sent him homeward

To make up his mind.

These days are now in the past,

And

they must remain in the

past

,

And yet we can rise,

To become that nation again, That

defied

proud Edward's army,

And sent him homeward

To make up his mind.

Scotland's national anthem: "Flower of Scotland" is often interpreted by well-known artists

At first only the first verse of the song was played, now it's the first and third.

The song is about the young Scots, "the prime of the country", who once set out to defend their country against the English King Edward.

The song is often performed by well-known national artists at soccer games, which usually take place in Scotland's soccer stronghold, Glasgow.

One of the most popular versions is that of singer Amy Macdonald, which has now been viewed millions of times on Youtube.

In addition to “Flower of Scotland”, which is sung in the vast majority of cases - like the European Championship - there are also two other unofficial national anthems: “Scotland the Brave” and “Scots Wha Hae”.

(akl)