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