“Hey! Are you Scottish by chance?”
Iain looked up from his strumming.
“Y’know. Your kilt and all,” said the man.
Iain thought, Yeah, and are you a tourist, by chance?
Aloud he replied, “Aye,” and continued playing his mandolin.
“You know, I’ve had this question for a long time. What IS the Scottish national anthem?” the man asked.
Iain didn’t look up, but started strumming Flower of Scotland.
The man started singing, “O, flower of Scotland, when will we see your like again…” His voice was amazing. “That was the first one I thought of! I was right!”
But Iain smoothly switched to Loch Lomond.
The man joined in singing when he got to the chorus, “O ye’ll tak’ the high road, and I’ll tak’ the low road.” His inflection was spot on. And, oh, what a voice!
“So Loch Lomond is the anthem?” the man asked.
Iain didn’t answer. He started playing Caledonia.
Sure enough, the man joined him at the chorus, “Let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time.”
His tenor was impeccable. People were starting to gather.
The man said, “I thought it should be Scotland the Brave. I love to hear pipes playing it.”
Iain started strumming Scotland the Brave and the man sang, “Hark when the night is falling…”
He knew every word. When he finished the chorus, “…Land of my heart forever, Scotland the brave,” the gathered crowd burst into applause.
And it wasn’t for Iain.
This is my submission to the Unicorn Challenge. It’s a simple challenge: Write no more than 250 words based on the photo prompt.
True story — politics are making me bonkers and, like an idiot, I keep listening to the news.
So the other day, instead of news, I looked up a now-retired podcast called “Thistle Do Nicely” because I knew that listening to Rory, Chris, and Jonny would make me laugh. Really, it has to be my favorite podcast ever. Listening to Thistle Do Nicely is like sitting in a pub and listening to three Scottish guys sitting at the next table talking and laughing. They’re funny. A little crude. A little off-color. So much better than politics.
Anyhow, with that background, this week’s prompt made me think of the episode they did discussing all the contenders for the Scottish National Anthem which doesn’t exist.
And, in truth, that wasn’t the episode I listened to this week. I’m relying on faulty memory regarding the National Anthem episode. Last week I actually listened to a Christmas episode because I just wanted to hear their voices.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
I’m with you on the politics~ At this point those who believe will not change their minds. Those who want to preserve democracy won’t change theirs, and those who don’t like either candidate will definitely vote third party.
A lovely story Sally
This was such a fun and different take, Sally. Loved it!
So, who was the man, I ask myself, while all these songs play in my head?
A fun take on the prompt, Sally, that has led to part of my Sunday morning being taken up by listening to Thistle Do Nicely. (The Biffy Clyro episode, where the lads had just missed a week and ‘Sally’ had phoned in in a panic to see what was wrong… Yes? No? Biffy Clyro because Simon, the lead singer, used to work in my local cafe in the early 2000s.)
But I digress.
Cool story, great songs and Iain put in his place.
Kenneth McKellar? No, too old.
Donnie Monroe?
Or handsome figure from your imagination?
Good story.
The man is from my imagination. He’s American and dabbles in all-things-Scotland as much as I do. Plus he can sing.
Yes — anytime they reference “Sally” in Thistle Do Nicely, that would be me. I loved that podcast. It was just plain fun — with Scottish accents.
Laughing here, Sally, though it seems I’m the only one who wanted to slap the singer. I just can’t stand perfect people!
As for politics, regardless of country, don’t get me started.
A shower of lying, corrupt, self-entitled psychopaths, with the orange toad at the bottom of the barrel.
Lovely Sally, I’d have sung along if I’d known the words!
It’s the journey, no? Maybe all of those songs are the Peoples’ anthem. All in a satisfying (for the listener’s) night of fine competition. 😉
What an awesome duet!
And now I have Loch Lomond stuck in my head….
Hahaha — welcome to my life