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10 Best Scottish Funeral Songs
Scotland has a rich musical tradition that resonates deeply in times of loss. This page offers a selection of Scottish funeral songs, capturing the soul and sentiment of the nation while providing a meaningful backdrop for commemorating a loved one.
Below shows the following songs on the page: Amazing Grace, Auld Lang Syne, Flower of Scotland, Caledonia, The Skye Boat Song, Mull of Kintyre, The Dark Island, Loch Lomond, The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond, Highland Cathedral.
Below shows the following songs on the page: Amazing Grace, Auld Lang Syne, Flower of Scotland, Caledonia, The Skye Boat Song, Mull of Kintyre, The Dark Island, Loch Lomond, The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond, Highland Cathedral.
1) Amazing Grace
Song Written by Traditional (Various Artists)
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2) Auld Lang Syne
Song Written by Traditional (Various Artists)
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
We twa hae run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit
Sin' auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' 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
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
We twa hae run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit
Sin' auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' 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
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
3) Flower of Scotland
Song Written by The Corries
O flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves
Lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
Those days are passed now
And in the past
They must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
When will we see
Your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves
Lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
Those days are passed now
And in the past
They must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
4) Caledonia
Song Written by Caledonia
I don't know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days, I've been afraid
That I might drift away
So I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I came from
And that's the reason why I seem
So far away today
Oh, let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me
Now I'm going home
And if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
I've ever had
Now I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the fellas and left them crying
Stolen dreams, yes, there's no denying
I have traveled hard, sometimes with conscience flying
Somewhere with the wind
Oh, let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me
Now I'm going home
And if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
I've ever had
Now I'm sitting here before the fire
The empty room, the forest choir
The flames have cooled, don't get any higher
They've withered, now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When the hands have shaken and the kisses flowed
Well, I will disappear
Oh, let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me
Now I'm going home
And if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
I've ever had
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days, I've been afraid
That I might drift away
So I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I came from
And that's the reason why I seem
So far away today
Oh, let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me
Now I'm going home
And if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
I've ever had
Now I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the fellas and left them crying
Stolen dreams, yes, there's no denying
I have traveled hard, sometimes with conscience flying
Somewhere with the wind
Oh, let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me
Now I'm going home
And if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
I've ever had
Now I'm sitting here before the fire
The empty room, the forest choir
The flames have cooled, don't get any higher
They've withered, now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When the hands have shaken and the kisses flowed
Well, I will disappear
Oh, let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me
Now I'm going home
And if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
I've ever had
5) The Skye Boat Song
Song Written by Traditional (Various Artists)
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar
Thunderclaps rend the air
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore
Follow they will not dare
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet e'er the sword cool in the sheath
Charlie will come again
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar
Thunderclaps rend the air
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore
Follow they will not dare
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet e'er the sword cool in the sheath
Charlie will come again
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
6) Mull of Kintyre
Song Written by Paul McCartney & Wings
Mull of Kintyre
Oh, mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh, Mull of Kintyre
Far have I traveled
And much have I seen
Dark distant mountains
With valleys of green
Past painted deserts
The sunset's on fire
As he carries me home to the Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre
Oh, mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh, Mull of Kintyre
Sweep through the heather
Like deer in the glen
Carry me back
To the days I knew then
Nights when we sang
Like a heavenly choir
Of the life and the time of the Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre
Oh, mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh, Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre
Oh, mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh, Mull of Kintyre
Oh, mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh, Mull of Kintyre
Far have I traveled
And much have I seen
Dark distant mountains
With valleys of green
Past painted deserts
The sunset's on fire
As he carries me home to the Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre
Oh, mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh, Mull of Kintyre
Sweep through the heather
Like deer in the glen
Carry me back
To the days I knew then
Nights when we sang
Like a heavenly choir
Of the life and the time of the Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre
Oh, mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh, Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre
Oh, mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh, Mull of Kintyre
7) The Dark Island
Song Written by Traditional (Various Artists)
I saw a moonrise over the Dark Island
And the mountains that divide the glen
And the waters that run between them
Will carry me back home again
If I could see just one more sunset
And feel the warmth of the sun upon my face
I'd be content in life to let go
And fly to a far-off place
I dream of seeing the Dark Island
With its silver sands so warm and white
But my love is there beside me
As we wander in the moonlight
And, though I know that we'll be returning
When the summer comes again
I'll go back to the Dark Island
And see my love again
And the mountains that divide the glen
And the waters that run between them
Will carry me back home again
If I could see just one more sunset
And feel the warmth of the sun upon my face
I'd be content in life to let go
And fly to a far-off place
I dream of seeing the Dark Island
With its silver sands so warm and white
But my love is there beside me
As we wander in the moonlight
And, though I know that we'll be returning
When the summer comes again
I'll go back to the Dark Island
And see my love again
8) Loch Lomond
Song Written by Traditional (Various Artists)
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
Oh, ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond
Where in purple hue the Highland hills we view
And the moon coming out in the gloaming
Oh, ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
The wee birdies sing and the wildflowers spring
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again
Though the waeful may cease frae their greeting
Oh, ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
Oh, ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond
Where in purple hue the Highland hills we view
And the moon coming out in the gloaming
Oh, ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
The wee birdies sing and the wildflowers spring
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again
Though the waeful may cease frae their greeting
Oh, ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
9) The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond
Song Written by Traditional (Various Artists)
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever won't to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomond
Where in purple hue, the Highland hills we view
And the moon comin' out in the gloamin'
Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
The wee birdies sing and the wildflowers spring
And in sunshine the waters are sleepin'
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again
And the waefu' may cease frae their greetin'
Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever won't to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomond
Where in purple hue, the Highland hills we view
And the moon comin' out in the gloamin'
Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
The wee birdies sing and the wildflowers spring
And in sunshine the waters are sleepin'
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again
And the waefu' may cease frae their greetin'
Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
10) Highland Cathedral
Song Written by Traditional (Various Artists)
Oft in the stilly night
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Fond memory brings the light
Of other days around me;
The smiles, the tears
Of boyhood's years,
The words of love then spoken;
The eyes that shone,
Now dimmed and gone,
The cheerful hearts now broken.
Thus in the stilly night,
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
When I remember all
The friends, so linked together,
I've seen around me fall
Like leaves in wintry weather;
I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed.
Thus in the stilly night,
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Fond memory brings the light
Of other days around me;
The smiles, the tears
Of boyhood's years,
The words of love then spoken;
The eyes that shone,
Now dimmed and gone,
The cheerful hearts now broken.
Thus in the stilly night,
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
When I remember all
The friends, so linked together,
I've seen around me fall
Like leaves in wintry weather;
I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed.
Thus in the stilly night,
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
Popular Songs
This section explores popular songs that are often chosen for funeral ceremonies.
Jerusalem
Remember Me
How Long Will I Love You
Bring Him Home
Abide With Me
The Carnival Is Over
Spirit In The Sky
Pie Jesu