The tune probably originated in the late 19th century. The earliest known printing of the tune was in the
Utah Musical Bouquet in January 1878, and the earliest known version printed in Scotland is in
The National Choir in 1891. The lyrics commonly used now were written in about 1950 by the journalist
Cliff Hanley for the singer
Robert Wilson as part of an arrangement by Marion McClurg. Another set of lyrics also often heard was sung by the Canadian singer
John McDermott; they are closely based on the poem "Let Italy Boast" by
James Hyslop, which was first published in 1821 in
The Edinburgh Magazine. However, Hyslop intended his poem to be sung to the melody of
Sir Walter Scott's "Boat Song" from "
The Lady of the Lake" and not "Scotland the Brave". "Scotland the Brave" is also the authorised
pipe band march of the
British Columbia Dragoons of the
Canadian Armed Forces. "Scotland the Brave" was played before matches involving the
Scottish national football team at the
1982,
1986, and
1990 FIFA World Cups. "Flower of Scotland" was subsequently adopted by Scotland for use at
FIFA-sponsored events, after its usage by the
Scottish national rugby union team. The song was used to represent Scotland in the
Commonwealth Games until it was replaced by "Flower of Scotland" from the
2010 games onwards. ==References==