David MacLennan, the Scottish writer, actor, and producer, is the founder of\u00a0 A Play, A Pie & a Pint, Glasgow’s Lunchtime Theatre. In the 1970s he co-founded 7:84 Theatre Company with his brother-in-law, John McGrath, and later Wildcat Stage Productions.\u00a0 David died earlier this year from Motor Neurone Disease. Shortly before he gave his permission for me to post this\u00a0 poem.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If Scotland<\/p>\n
If Scotland votes for Independence
\nWill the limestone lochs of Durness become more limey
\nWill Scots porridge oats be much more porridgey
\nWill Arbroath smokies be far smokier
\nAnd make our Cullen Skink a whole lot skinkier<\/p>\n
Will Independence make the heather bloom more purple
\nThe gorse more yellow sea campion more pink
\nAnd will the bluebells below the Duke\u2019s Pass in the Trossachs
\nMore thoroughly carpet the woods<\/p>\n
If we vote yes
\nWill the Tartan Army throw off its inhibitions
\nAnd really get themselves about
\nWill Celtic Rangers Hibs and Hearts at last command the passion of the fans
\nWill Inverness Caley Thistle find a more patriotic name
\nAnd will the Sun and Daily Record finally give some space to football<\/p>\n
Will the Proclaimers rediscover their Dundee accents
\nWill Phil Cunninghame get his act together on that box of his
\nAnd Aly Bain get to grips with his Shetland fiddle
\nWill Paolo Nutini sound more Paisley
\nAnd Capercaille a bit more Gaely<\/p>\n
If Scotland was left to go it alone
\nWould Bannockburn be undeniable
\nThe Saltire flag more flyiable
\nThe Bank of Scotland liable
\nThe crofting way of life more viable
\nThe Wee Free Church more pliable
\nThe Orange marchers justifiable
\nThe summer weather more reliable
\nAnd would the deep fried Mars bar cease to be as fryable<\/p>\n
If Scotland goes it own way
\nWill the Langholm Common Riding be more common
\nWill the cabers birl further in bonny Braemar
\nWill the flames of Up Helly Aa more brightly burn
\nWill Abermuchty and Auchtergeldy take it in turn
\nTo have the longest village main street in the land<\/p>\n
Will smir and dreich and gloaming forebye
\nAnd drookit and glaikit an aw naw an och aye
\nBurst forth like a spring when Scotland is free
\nAn\u2019 gallus an\u2019 stumour an\u2019 oh michty me<\/p>\n
If Scotland says aye
\nWill St. Andrews be the home of golf
\nWill the curling stones roar on the Lake of Menteith
\nWill the cammans clash loud in the Camanachd Cup
\nWill the Guest House in Oban be always full up<\/p>\n
Will the Rest and Be Thankful be thankful at last
\nThe Beallach to Applecross more like a pass
\nWill the Old Man of Hoy and the Old Man of Stoer
\nAnd Buachaille Etive Beg and Buachaille Etive M\u00f2r
\nStand taller and prouder and more recognizable
\nAnd the chip on oor shooders a wee bit less sizeable<\/p>\n
Will Glaswegians be more gallus
\nWill you have had you\u2019re tea in Edinburgh
\nWill Aberdonians be more mean
\nAnd will all the stereotypes
\nOf every city town and village in the land be reinforced<\/p>\n
If Scotland does its ain thing
\nWill Scotland be more Scottish<\/p>\n
I hae ma doots.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
David MacLennan, the Scottish writer, actor, and producer, is the founder of\u00a0 A Play, A Pie & a Pint, Glasgow’s Lunchtime Theatre. In the 1970s he co-founded 7:84 Theatre Company with his brother-in-law, John McGrath, and later Wildcat Stage Productions.\u00a0…<\/span><\/p>\n