A sense o the past, in ballad and tale,
Buried ower deep, it whiles can seem frail
But it aye wants tae thrive, tae dance an tae sing
Tradition’s a chiel that juist winna ding
Sae let’s hae a cheer for the auld clootie well
A cheer for the Hogmanay pairty an aa
A ringin hurrah for the Steenhive fireballs
An the masons’ walk o Rosehearty sae braw
U-N-E-S-C-O, and the masons’ walk o Rosehearty sae braw
Complex in simplicity, hard tae preen doon
Life an antiquity, history’s boon,
An unconscious pairt o the darg o fowks’ days
That wins oot in acks, an gesture an phrase
Sae let’s hae a cheer for yer gran’s tattie soup
Likewise the receipt for her gravy an aa
A ringin hurrah for the auld Burry Man
An the blaze o the Burgheid Clavie sae braw
U-N-E-S-C-O, an the blaze o the Burgheid Clavie sae braw
Passin things on frae auld fowk tae weans
Drawin on aa five o the haundy domains
That UNESCO’s Convention helps tae define
We hear that ere lang the UK’s gonnae sign!
Sae let’s hae a cheer for Up Helly Aa
Dancin an birlin at ceilidhs an aa
A ringin hurrah for the strathspeys an reels
The drystane dykin an curlin sae braw
Sae let’s hae a cheer for Up Helly Aa
Dancin an birlin at ceilidhs an aa
A ringin hurrah for the strathspeys an reels
The drystane dykin an curlin sae braw
U-N-E-S-C-O, Intangible Cultural Heritage, that’s aa!
Written by: David Francis, 2023
Recorded by: David Francis & Steve Byrne
