Both sides the Tweed

This is a beautiful ballad composed by Dick Gaughan.

"Both sides the Tweed" is a song about the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England. Dick Gaughan made minor changes to the words and added his own tune.^[1] The song was written in 1979 and first appeared on Gaughan's 1981 album Handful of Earth.^[2]Though Gaughan's recording was embraced by music critics at the time,^{[citation needed]} the song achieved wide popularity only later when it was recorded by the Scottish group Capercaillie on their album Sidewaulk.

http://youtu.be/ywoQ0JP1zRE

Both sides the Tweed

What's the spring breathing jasmine and rose

What's the summer with all it's gay train

What's the splendour of autumn to those

Who've bartered their freedom for gain.

(chorus)

Let the love of our land's sacred rights

To the love of our people succeed

Let friendship and honour unite

And flourish on both sides the Tweed.

No sweetness the senses can cheer

Which corruption and bribery bind

No brightness the sun can e'er clear

For honour's the sum of the mind.

(repeat chorus)

Let virtue distinguish the brave

Place riches in lowest degree

Think them poorest who can be a slave

Them richest who dare to be free.

(repeat chorus)

traduzione di Cattia Salto*

I

Cos’è la primavera odorosa

di gelsomino e rosa?

Cos’è l’estate

con il suo manto fiorito?

Cos’è lo splendore dell’autunno

per coloro che hanno barattato

la propria libertà per profitto?

II

Che l’amore dei sacri diritti del nostro Re, vada insieme con l’amore per il nostro paese,

e si uniscano l’amicizia e l’onore

per fiorire sulle due sponde del Tweed.

III

Nessuna bellezza può rallegrare i sensi

che corruzione e concussione abbagliano; nessuna luminosità mai rischiarare quel buio, perchè il sole della mente è l’onore

IV

Chi ha coraggio possa distinguersi per il valore perché ha stimato nulla le ricchezze,

considerando più povero colui che diventa schiavo

e più ricco chi osa essere libero.

V

Lasciateci ricordare come i nostri antenati si siano sollevati, e siano caduti per difendere i diritti e ciò che essi comprarono con il loro sangue, noi non dovremo mai vendere!

Lyrics and information also here:

http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/songs/texts/tweed.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Both_sides_the_Tweed

About Dick Gaughan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Gaughan