Song of Freedom

from The Soul of Democracy by Alan Dickson

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Lyrics by John Peacock , Greenock, published on 19th April 1845 in the Northern Star. Re-arranged by Alan Dickson and set to a variation of the tune ‘What Can a Young Lassie Do Wi’ an Old Man'.

lyrics

Chorus
O! awa wi sic sangs as aft hae been sung,
The lyre to fond freedom has scarcely been strung;
Sae now strike the lyre, an’ this sang gie to me,
The sweetest o’ a’ sangs that breathes o’ the free

Weak puffs blawin’ praises baith empty an’ vain,
To favour the rich folk, an’ court a big name;
The maist o’ the sangs sung in years that’s awa,
An’ sung now a-days – a trows a – but a blaw

The bards* o’ langsyne sung loud praises to kings –
To proud peers, an’ princes, and sic pamper’d things;
Strung their lyres to the fame o’ the walthy an’ great,
Ranted awa about the Kirk an’ the State

To Love, War, an’ Wine, they hae mony sangs gien –
But few to sweet Freedom, their bosom’s best frien’:
And Freedom – fair Freedom – the night o’ our birth,
Smiles now like the simmer sun far o’er the earth

Lang tired wi’ the rants and the sangs o’ langsyne,
Mankind sing the sangs o’ a happier time;
When nations an’ nation an’ ane will agree,
An’ the hale earth resound wi’ sangs o’ the free.

credits

from The Soul of Democracy, released June 24, 2017

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Alan Dickson Glasgow, UK

Scottish singer songwriter Alan Dickson was born in Leith but now based in Glasgow. Alan writes about life in Scotland and beyond, mainly of a personal and political nature.

Descended from a Leith docker, he remarks: "as life mimics art I'm just like my grandfather, only he used a rivet gun and I use a guitar."

Among his influences are Robert Burns, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Dick Gaughan. ... more

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