Robert Burns - Parcel O' Rogues lyrics

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Fareweel to a' oor Scottish fame

Fareweel oor ancient glory

Fareweel even tae oor Scottish name

Sae famed in martial story

Noo Sark runs o'er the Solway sands

Tweed runs tae the ocean

Tae mark where England's province stands

Such a parcel o' rogues in a nation

What force or guile could not subdue

Through many wor-like ages

Is rocked now by the coward few

For hireling traitor's wages

The English steel we could disdain

Secure in valour's station

But English gold has been oor bane

Such a parcel o' rogues in a nation

O would or I had seen the day

That treason thus would sell us

My old grey heid had lain in clay

Wi' Bruce and loyal Wallace

But pith and power till my last hour

I'll mak' this declaration

We are bought and sold for English gold

Such a parcel o' rogues in a nation

[ Written by Robert Burns as a protest against the Act of Union, 1707, which

joined the parliaments of England and Scotland. Although initially against

the Act, the Scottish parliament soon agreed when offered a large pension

each by the English government. The people had no say, and thus were

'bought and sold for English gold'. They are still paying the price