Standing with linked arms at the end of the Grand March, waiting to start the first dance, the band strikes up the national anthems of the attending dancers. You sing your own and mumble along with the others, silently vowing that you WILL remember to learn the words before the next dance.
Sound familiar?
All the big dances start with 'The Star Spangled Banner' and 'God Save the King'; or, lately, 'Scotland the Brave'; often 'O Canada' and sometimes others, if there are special guests. And Hogmanay celebrations always includes a couple verses of 'Auld Lang Syne'.
To make things a little easier, here are the words.
SCOTLAND THE BRAVE
An unofficial Scottish National Anthem
Hear! hear the pipes are calling,Loudly and proudly calling,
Down through the glen. There where the hills are sleeping
Now feel the blood a-leaping,
High as the spirits
Of the old Highland men.
Towering in gallant fame,
Scotland my mountain hame,
High may your proud standards
Gloriously wave.
Land of my high endeavour,
Land of the shining rivers,
Land of my heart for ever,
Scotland the brave.
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
National anthem of the USA
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
GOD SAVE THE KING
National anthem of Great Britain
Note to Americans: the tune is the same as 'My country, Tis of thee'
God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King.
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.
O CANADA
National anthem of Canada
(English lyrics)
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee
(French Lyrics)
O Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
AULD LANG SYNE
The original lyrics were by Robert Burns,
but there are a lot of variations. This is ours.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!
And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
CHORUS