Flowers of the Forest Bagpipes

Flowers of the Forest played by Duncan Pittock

[@Jen999]

My beautiful husband was Scottish.. he loved bagpipes so.. he was very sick and too weak to play them.. this beautiful poignant song was played at his funeral.. and whenever I hear this.. I cry💜💙

[@LanceHarding]

God Bless you Jen. I have played this on the pipes a good many times, I also played at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in a pipe band back in 1984. Sorry to hear of the loss of your husband, take care as best you can.

[@Jen999]

@@LanceHardingYour beautiful reply.. your kind words.. are deeply appreciated.. we Scottish tend to be a bit melancholy and stoic.. the bagpipes were dear to my sweet William.. he so would have loved to hear you play.. thank you for your gentle reply.. May God Bless you… 💜💙🙏✨🦋

[@LanceHarding]

@@Jen999 I know only too well, my Granny was from Scotland, she never lost her accent, was very proud of it, so am I too. You are very welcome, look efter yersel'.

[@Jen999]

@@LanceHarding Oh so glad to hear that.. my mother was Scottish.. she taught me to pray in Gaelic.. William and I prayed with her.. thank you for sharing that.. Slan mo charaid 💜💙

[@horatio655]

I’m not a very emotional person, it’s very rare that I shed a tear. But this lament always makes me think about the men who gave their lives in all those bloody battles. Those men who fought for their homeland. Those men who went so bravely forward into living hell on more than one occasion. The thought of them makes me cry like I’ve never done before. God rest their souls, every single one of them.

[@davidwakelam8605]

A local piper plays this at our War Memorial as the wreaths are laid on Remembrance Day. As an old soldier it never fails to send a tear trickling down my cheek, just like now. I'll be there again next year, and every year. Don't forget to buy your Poppy!

[@phyllispetras3821]

A piper lived in my neighborhood in 1968....Every good evening with no snow, rain or extreme cold, he would practice in his back garden, and all of us would pull our yard chairs outside to listen to him. Enchanted evenings.

[@owenmills3517]

I used to live on the outskirts of a town called Pickering in northern England, there was a field outside our house and on a night you could hear the bands and pipes practicing. It was absolutely amazing sitting out in the cool summer breeze listening to them

[@rosemariezadek3720]

how very blessed you were.

[@MrRunner]

I spent my childhood in a small village called Ballater, Aberdeenshire. Every morning at 0800 you could hear the pipes calling across the river Dee and through the trees from the Barracks housing the Royal Guard.

[@l.marylawson3203]

The piper showed up at the funeral of my only child in Janaury 2005. As a young lad he lived in Dunoon Scotland for 3 years. he loved the sound of the pipes and was learning to play the pipes. My very loved son was just 27 when he was killed in the rush hour battlefield of Seattle interstate. I miss him everyday.

[@phyllispetras3821]

It is so sad when we lose children. I lost one son 2011 from pneumonia. Never will we forget them, through all eternity.

[@GrowLLLTigeRRR]

I am very sorry for your loss Ms. Lawson.

[@hughjass42069]

seattle interstate? whats that

[@rainblaze.]

L. Mary Lawson my hearts deep felt condolences to you and yours, particularly at this time of year, i know how that can go. This is an ancient scottish lament originally written for ( the king oor the water) and for all the the fallen worriors of the "45 uprising" after the standerd was risen on glen finnan on the morning of the 19th of August. Its usually played at a "worriers" funeral by a member of his reg. And as a consequence is considerd "sacred" by some Piobaireach players who will only play it, at a member of the fallens" funeral, while in full Highland dress. It's formal name is "the flowers of the forest" normally pronounced "fluers o the fores"...... hope this helps love and hope to you and yours 2019 xxxx 💚

[@leohylton-slater6266]

Prayers for your son. God bless him and his family.

[@ethandavid20121955]

Flowers of the forest is not just for soldiers who have fallen in Afghanistan, it has been traditionally played for years, It was played at my fathers funeral in 1969, it was played at my comrades funeral in 1978, get your facts right, it is a military lament, introduced by the scots to the British Army, We Vets of earlier campaigns tend to be forgotten by you people

[@marievonastra5634]

Sir, with sincere respect, please accept my poor assurance you are not forgotten. I am (along with many others) thankful for your honorable service and sacrifice and that of your brothers-in-arms. Sources suggest this ancient folk tune (also known as "The Liltin'" or "The Flo'ers o' the Forest") - which you quite correctly identify as Scottish - has been around for centuries, perhaps dating as far back as 600 A.D., although it was only committed to manuscript (and in a form we might begin to recognize today) in the first quarter of the 17th century.

[@lounmixes9830]

This is an ancient Scots tune, far out dating Britain itself.

[@ethandavid20121955]

Loun Mixes Like I said, Introduced by the Scots to the British Army, as for far out dating Britain itself, well I wasn't around when it was composed so I cannot honestly say

[@grantbrown6941]

You seem to be looking for the origin of this song, as a proud Scotsman I can confirm that it was in fact written as a lament for the fallen highlanders who fought in the battle of Culloden in 1745 which ended the Jacobite revolution.

[@ethandavid20121955]

Grant Brown Thank you Grant, Much appreciated, But if you read my original post, you will see my point

[@ernestoguevara8930]

For those who maybe do not understand the reason of this tune. It was a lament to the many Scottish noble-men and above all King James the Fourth who perished alongside 10,000 of his countrymen at Flodden. Possibly the saddest day in Scotland's history.

[@paulbrooks9957]

+Ernesto Guevara Well now I have some answer to this beautiful lament.

[@kennypearce2371]

If Jimmy 4 had stayed in Scotland, instead of trying to invade England? However it is a lament to the fallen and is respected both sides of the border.

[@GrowLLLTigeRRR]

I have just learned that one of my ancestors was one of several Scottish lords who fell that day.

[@stanbattle7436]

I didnt know that... I have heard this lament so many times before and never knew the name of it. I'm still searching.

[@patrickcummins976]

@@GrowLLLTigeRRR same here. Very proud to claim my ancestry and of the sacrifices they made...

[@alexanderacostaosorio]

HRH, rest in peace.

[@russellmackay3359]

They played this song at my commanding officers funeral. I love this song and it will always remind me of that day.

[@gordonmacdonald299]

I am Canadian, but my family came from Lewis many years back. Bag pipes always stir my emotions.

[@williammcleod192]

Southern American.....Clan from Skye same

[@emilywhitfield2780]

Mine too!!!

[@melaniemullan1040]

I love this song and when I play it at funerals even the hardest bastards will cry. Watched 50 Hells angels cry like little Girls when I played for one of them at a biker funeral. This song should always be played from the Heart and practiced alone. We play it a lot in Ireland, for all walks of life. I as a Vet want it played at my funeral. But as a Piper ...so will it be done.

[@rw7736]

No David , never forgotten . I live in a small community in Canada. I`ve heard this lament played by a lone piper in many remembrance ceremonies. It always makes me emotional as I remember the sacrifice of many young Canadians and allies of the British commonwealth . I`m very proud to claim this as part of my heritage as a Canadian with the Scott influence.

[@nonenowherebye]

I'm as civilian as they come, but I still feel honoured to have been able to have stood at the side of the road during a ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield as one of our boys was sent home. The sound of the pipes, and the silence of the hundreds of soldiers of many nations, and others, standing at the side of the road to the airfield, is something I will never forget.

[@stanbattle7436]

Thats very sad,,, terrible things can happen to nice people.

[@youwinoneinternets]

Scotsman here, it brings a tear to my eye everytime I hear it played at a funeral or rememberance. The folly of heroism...

[@jimlyon7276]

@@youwinoneinternets - Or rather the folly of the incompetent politicians on both sides - deep sigh !

[@thehowlingmisogynist9871]

Canada is full of Scot's descent, that's why they're so brave !!

[@skeletalwreck8780]

One of the most touching haunting tunes I’ve ever heard Brilliant

[@Monaginagin]

amazing, get shivers down my spine whenever I listen to the pipes. This tune especially.

[@LilyRoberts123]

I’m not even Scottish and this tune hits hard. When it was played at Prince Phillips funeral I lost it 😢😢

[@TheSSoSS]

im here for the same reasons..! puncher

[@elbethclarke1154]

I felt it most when the sound dropped as the piper left the chapel.

[@MrCopyrat]

You lost it long time ago

[@simonbowles5237]

being a Englishman ,I like the pipes very stirring, can't imagine what going into battle was like ,but the pipes must ave got the blood stirred,god bless to all British men that have fallen ,never forgotten rip

[@cherylcheryl376]

God rest the Queen. Lord receive our lady, the best representation of ourselves, head of the church, mother to the people, we commit her to you. God rest the Queen.

[@JetDom767]

They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn At the going down of the sun And in the morning we will remember them. Lest we forget

[@babyinuyasha]

Lest we forget

[@ronaldstewart2532]

haunting Scottish lament "Flowers of the Forest", which was originally written for the fallen at the Battle of Flodden in 1513 but still captures the heart today..

[@LadySilverWolfe]

There is NO difference. We are all ONE. We all love, we all hurt, we all bleed.

[@appletree8441]

Not true. We are not all one. We all LEED.but my blood is for my family and country and those who are in my group. To say that we are all one big happy family is to deny history and reality

[@appletree8441]

Bullshit

[@andreasiversen3440]

@@Scorpion-vh8lj He means that if everyone is your brother then noone is really your brother, and it becomes a meaningless thing.

[@dennis12dec]

To the 10 Guardsmen of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards who were killed in the Battle of Mount Tumbledown, Falkland Islands 12-13 June 1982. Nemo Me Impune Laccesit!

[@juanbiava6949]

Tambien se la dedicaria a los marineros argentinos who were killed in ARA GENERAL BELGRANO.Wha daur meddle wi me

[@gordymiller4630]

Aye!

[@jneff7939]

I will never forget what our fathers have done. They are with me, in my blood going back over a thousand generations. And we to will live on through the sons of our sons a thousand more.

[@anneross5362]

This tune always brings mixed emotions. Although hearing it makes me sad, it's also connected to one of the funniest memories I have of the period after my father's death. (Dad was a member of the Queen's University Pipe Band and the grandson of Sullivan Ross, 1876 North American Champion Piper and Canada's first composer of pipe tunes ). His earliest known ancestor fought at Culloden. When I was planning my father's memorial service, the minister suggested we have the Piper play Amazing Grace. I burst out laughing while the Minister stared at me,trying to figure out what was so funny. My father was very traditional. I explained to the Minister that my father would be horrified if the piper played Amazing Grace at his memorial service. Flowers of The Forest was to him, THE ONLY traditional tune to be played at funerals and memorial services not only for soldiers, but also for pipers with Scots blood running through their veins. Amazing Grace was, to my Canadian father, an American vulgarity not to be tolerated. Yes, it is judgmental, but my father was very proud of his Scots blood and our family's contribution to the history of Piping.

[@FinnBeag]

My family feels exactly the same way about Amazing Grace😀 I heard it played at a wedding as the Bride came out of the church and cringed!

[@magicalternishere3682]

"Will Ye No Come Back Again" I guess would be for when someone leaves for war? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@johncharlesfarrell3144]

Well said. My big sister was wedded to a Ross and lived for 20 years in Aberdeenshire and Winnipeg for twenty years. A fine gentleman and a great sister to be related to. When I go to meet them again it will be with the pipes doing Flowers of the Forest.

[@davidryan4127]

Brings me a misty eye every time and tells me never forget the sacrifice and respect for all who give up their lives for a cause they believe in

[@lisamulholland1562]

Truly beautiful music that touches your soul.

[@TheMuteSwan]

What a beautiful and poignant piece of music.

[@trueblue3719]

Rest easy your Majesty 😔 forever loved and respected by your loyal subjects in Scotland. We are the people 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙🇬🇧

[@rickylee508]

Playing outlawed tunes on outlawed pipes…..so much respect for fallen soldiers of every nation

[@madamvaudelune3298]

To those fallen in battle everywhere We sing your courage, and your willingness to give all. We are not here to applaud those who sent you to die; history must judge their cause. Your loyalty and the blood you spilled is above all judgement, as are all holy things. Reverence, awe, honor, glory and eternal remembrence of sacrifice be unto you.

[@pierretollari5355]

Bravo pour ce beau commentaire. Je pense la même chose.

[@bruceramsey5489]

My brother made his Scottish friend cry when he sent this video to him when his mother died. She loved this piece.

[@witsunshifrin3776]

Thank you so much for this version of the visual. my dearly departed friend who now lies in a military cemetary loved wolves and the forest very much. ..rest in peace Tasja and everyone else, much respect.

[@lewiscase546]

When it’s time, I want this.

[@lss3771]

It’s so beautiful. It sounds so much like how my dad played it in the garage. He doesn’t play it often but when he does it sounds beautiful

[@connorreid2026]

we will remember them

[@addictedtohisgrace]

We will keep their memory alive and remember the values they fought and died for.

[@silkroad1201]

Who again? I forgot...

[@barbaraross7629]

This is the part that I can not control tears......................

[@donallen1384]

I am a Military Veteran, the sound of the pipes make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.. Per Ardua Ad Astra!

[@residentelect]

Thank you for your service Don. A Friend. 4626 Sqdn RAuxAF (BZZ) "Tute Domum"

[@donallen1384]

And thank you for your service too, utmost respect....A Friend?

[@donallen1384]

@@residentelect I am a Royal Air Force Veteran, my last permenantly station before demob was six years at Brize Norton, would like to make contact.

[@lewiscase546]

My wife and I had a piper at our wedding. When my tine comes, I hope someone does this for me. 24 years military vet.

[@jackgreentheweirdonce-ler969]

It's actually beautiful See Bagpipes scare you off for a while with how loud they are but the way they're played makes up for it

[@rin_etoware_2989]

I play this song every morning. The perfect blend of relaxing and irritating-enough to wale you up.

[@PortbyhanMan]

Nobody can do a lament like us Celts! So beautiful and sad at the same time. Really invokes the emotions; you do not need words to 'hear' the message. You just need to feel the music. I want this played for my father seeing as he was a servicemen (if I can't play it myself by then). Thank you for uploading this.

[@blacksonne19]

Beautiful!!! Thank you all of you who served or are serving now I'm indebted to you deeply!

[@G4RY1159]

A very moving piece of music, thanks for sharing.

[@jeffd7579]

whatched all day tears I did not know I had . respect and love

[@seanpenn4140]

Played this at a German bikers funeral, really big hard Guys, by the time I was finished they understood what the Pipes can Tell you. If you listen.

[@jonathanday6692]

We have very few bagpipe songs of this age, the playing was banned and the schools destroyed. We have nothing for the thousand or so years before, although it may have mixed bagpipe with carnyx or other instruments. The bagpipe carries well over moors, lakes and seas, so one could imagine it being used not just in war to terrify but in peace to guide and in highland mists to warn. If we understand it as such a voice of wisdom, back then, this piece of music takes on a new depth. It becomes the wailing of the bann sidhe.

[@stevedickson5853]

God bless the Queen, long live the king.

[@Metoobie]

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

[@Grond76]

Great Britain is one nation, indivisible and proud of its people, and of the countries that make it up. I could not be prouder to call myself British knowing that Scots, Irish, Welsh and English can all call themselves British, and that the Union is stronger with them, than without them.

[@keithbawden7940]

Grond76. You forget the Kernewek (Cornish)!

[@keithbawden7940]

Grond76. You have forgotten An Kernewek (the Celtic Cornish - the people that some in England pretend do not exist)!

[@deusvult8827]

Family name and ancestors are from Skye I love the Great Britain as it is including England. Don’t let’s greedy fuck politicians turn you against your neighbours.

[@jaimadman]

When I was at Tynecot Cemetery in Belgium 2 weeks ago, this was played. I have never been so emotional.

[@countryboywilliams6755]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL...IT WILL BE PLAYED ON MY ""SPECIAL DAY""

Played at my Nana's funeral. Margaret Brooks 1912-2006. Will be played at mine to see me off. Alba Gu Brath!!

[@paulbrooks9957]

Beautiful and surreal.

[@nylehotaling675]

Never in history has virtually fathomless mourning resulted in one of the most beautiful and expressive musics ever, Piobaereachd... Caillyech Beine Brich...

[@doubledee9675]

This is played on a bagpipe as the Lament at Anzac and Memorial Day Services at the school I went to in suburban Sydney. Very moving

[@grotezakhooi]

i was walking in the woods with my father several years ago and we heard a sound in the distance , we could not figur out what it was so we walked in the direction of the sound and what we saw and hearded then was amazing , there stood this man all dressed up playing the bagpipes , don't know the name of what he played but it was beautiful .

[@TheOldSalt]

I first heard this played at Prince Phillip’s Funeral, now I am going to have arrangements made to have this played at my funeral.

[@notsure64]

flowers of the forest ... what more iconic music can speak to anyone?

[@heatherduchene8779]

Beautiful. Stirs your heart.

[@papabear1971]

Buried my father to this rebel tune. Brings me to tears every time...

[@wullymc1]

Fuck off!

[@wullymc1]

Brings a tear to a glass eye .

[@TonusFabri2024]

Takes me back to my earliest memories of pipers in the Toronto Airforce Station,

[@papermason]

So wild, yet beautiful.

[@joanthomas6337]

I remember my Dad used to play this lament for fallen soldiers “ the Flowers of the Forrest”. We had a piper play this for him at his funeral service.

[@badcanadian]

Beautiful tune.

[@TheMuteSwan]

Yes - beautiful and poignant.

[@jimlyon7276]

@badcanadian - TRUE, but we Scots get VERY emotional about our culture & history so every time I listen to it or read the words it just rips me up - I guess that's the price we pay for being an ethnic minority & having neighbours as abusive as the sassenachs - VERY deep sigh ! SAOR ALBA GU BRATH !

[@graemeselkirk]

Beautiful.And the picture is so appropriate.

[@BigGinUAE]

Flowers of the Forest is an ancient Scottish folk tune. Although the original words are unknown, the melody was recorded in c. 1615-25 in the John Skene of Halyards Manuscript as "Flowres of the Forrest", although it might have been composed earlier. Several versions of words have been added to the tune, notably Jean Elliot's lyrics in 1756 or 1758. Others include those by Alison Cockburn below. However, many renditions are played on the Great Highland Bagpipe. Due to the content of the lyrics and the reverence for the tune, it is one of the few tunes that many pipers will perform in public only at funerals or memorial services, with play otherwise limited to private practice or to instruct other pipers

[@jimlyon7276]

@BigGinUAE - EXCUSE ME ! But "Floo'ers o' The Forest" is NOT a mere Scots folk tune it IS LAMENT !

[@extondude]

Got to love the Scottish highland bagpipes, I'll have to learn how to play them one day.

[@iainwood9517]

I'm a beginner piper, but not at all ashamed to admit that I tear up when I play this.

[@egnbigdave]

Played by a lone piper from the Signals Regt when we scattered my Grandads Ashes at Gamecock Barracks (formerly RAF Brampton where he served in WW2). RIP Joe. I miss you so much.

[@laneylydon9029]

Lovely piece of music. I think of remembrance day

[@paulcalver7514]

Beautiful !

Played at my Nana's funeral. Margaret Brooks 1912- 2006. MacDoland forever. Alba Gu Brath!

[@mrgbuz]

Some of you would cause a argument in a empty room. Honesty its about bagpipes and the music not about politics. Move your soap box somewhere else!

[@StrathendrickPiper]

agreed, thanks!

[@yvonnemullins1416]

Beg to disagree with you. When you hear Amazing Grace or your National Anthem played, doesn't that evoke a very special/sacred meaning to you?? It's the same with Flowers of the Forest. All of life (even music) is Political - one way or another....

[@craigmcintosh7241]

Tired of hearing Amazing Grace. At my brothers funeral in November 2016, I asked the Piper what he was gonna play, he said Amazing Grace. I said I'm tired of hearing it. He replied, "I'm tired of playing it". I suggested Flowers of the Forest and Going Home. He played both beautifully. It's a shame so many people(Americans) think Amazing Grace is the only song appropriate to be played at a funeral. They just don't know any other songs.

[@paullangford8179]

The Scots developed the bagpipes as a weapon of war.

[@jonathanday6692]

@Paul: Technically, the Scots didn't develop the pipes at all. They're an Etruscan invention, captured by the Irish and perfected by the Picts. The Scots, who were descended from the Irish, inherited one form and kept it for part of Scotland, using the Pictish form for the other.

[@rangersrfc611]

Just gorgeous.....

[@antoniofassone8072]

in rememberance of my friend john graeme bell rip big toni

[@babyinuyasha]

It's a haunting lament. The historical connection is surreal. Cullolden, Waterloo, Ypre, Somme, D-Day, even in present times this lament has been played to honour the soldiers of Britain and her empire that perished. When you hear it, you hear the wails of those who died not only in our life time, but also of those who died all those years ago. It truly is one of those laments that say so boldly what words cannot.

[@johnmclean1306]

I think we all should ask our local m.p smp what are there plans for helping the homeless ex soldier sleeping rough on the streets of the UK. shame on the UK government for nor doing more to help ex soldiers

[@davidpartridge7636]

Just wow when your in that mood xxx 😘

[@edjones7709]

tears in my eyes.

[@alcatraz693]

We are not talking about politics, political leanings, British Irish Welsh or Scots, we are talking about the beauty of the music. It bring tears to my eyes

[@taesan13]

beautiful music to remind us of brave men and women

[@StrathendrickPiper]

Thanks for watching the video and yes indeed you definitely should give the pipes a go!

[@cedriccbass-jp8ky]

the biggest battle for humanity is about to begin, most dont realise it yet.

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

I have heard this Tune far to many times .. In the army it is traditionally played now as a soldier is marched onto an aircraft by his 6 best mates to fly him home. RIP Soldiers

[@user-cc3vl2ui5r]

Very nice... Thank you so much my friend 🌹 🌹 🌹

[@robertcovil-jones9125]

Well said mate, as a Welshman who has a son who plays the pipes I can appreciate this a bit more, but when all said and done it is a beautiful piece

[@rangerslad.6094]

Gorgeous x

[@nigelmorgan3449]

Total respect. Thank you for your service

[@francettebenichou6783]

after reading all the comments I can't but agree with them Bag pipes although we fench do not use them as a "national" instrument , have always had the power over me to reach deep inside my emotions and make me shed tears .I have a personal memory of a Scot playing the pipes along a loch under pelting rain We were young and happy go lucky , but the sound of this music I will never forget

[@purplelittlefish3549]

Just now, I finished the traslation of a docu about the Scottish Pipers Army.... All the respect to this unique people!

[@silverback3489]

There are two tunes I have specified for my memorial service: This, and "Closing Time" by Leonard Cohen.

[@gerardrooney4366]

Well played.

[@extondude]

It is not genetics that makes a briton, but what he believes in, his belief and pride in his nations history and culture, the desire to protect this little island home we have off the shore of europe, to see it returned to its former glory. I am an englishman, but above all else, i am a briton who is proud of every part of this island, not just us english but our scottish brethren to the north and our welsh comrades to the west.

[@rangerslad.6094]

Gorgeous

[@maddalenaalesse8091]

Bellissimo!!!!!

[@rainblaze.]

to my dad mum and our wee sam ... GOD! I miss you so f@cking much ... I'll no be tae lang away... RIP guys

[@dennisfleming4877]

I have done the slow march to many funerals acompanied to the Piper's Lament.

[@StrathendrickPiper]

cheers mate i'm glad you enjoyed it, make sure you subscribe, Im planning on uploading alot more

[@tiny2438]

for my best friend :'( .... miss you... so much....

[@l.t.6885]

Rest in Peace beautiful Baron