Funeral Hymns in Scotland

In Scotland, funeral hymns often reflect the nation's deep cultural roots and spiritual heritage. These hymns can provide comfort and solace while also connecting mourners with Scottish traditions and the profound expressions of faith and community that are integral to Scottish life.

Selecting Hymns for a Scottish Funeral

Choosing hymns for a Scottish funeral involves considering both traditional Scottish melodies and universally beloved hymns that resonate with themes of remembrance, faith, and the journey beyond.

Here’s a selection of hymns that are particularly poignant for Scottish funerals, blending national pride with spiritual depth:

1. "The Lord's My Shepherd" (Psalm 23)

Often sung to the tune of "Crimond," this hymn is a staple in Scottish funerals, offering comfort with its assurances of divine guidance and care.

Lyric: "The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want; He makes me down to lie in pastures green."

2. "Amazing Grace"

Written by the Englishman John Newton, this hymn is immensely popular in Scotland, beloved for its powerful message of redemption and hope. It's a hymn that also serves as funeral music on many occasions. 

Lyric: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me."

3. "Abide With Me"

This hymn is frequently chosen for its themes of enduring faith and comfort during times of loss, resonating deeply at Scottish funerals.

Lyric: "Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide."

4. "Flower of Scotland"

Often played at national events and considered an unofficial national anthem, this song can be used to stir feelings of pride and remembrance of a life lived true to Scottish heritage.

Lyric: "O Flower of Scotland, when will we see your like again, that fought and died for, your wee bit hill and glen."

5. "Morning Has Broken"

Popularised by Scottish folk singer Cat Stevens, this hymn celebrates the new beginnings and the beauty of creation, fitting for marking the end of one life and the onset of a new journey.

Ask your funeral director to help you with the hymns if you cannot choose them yourself. 

Lyric: "Morning has broken like the first morning; Blackbird has spoken like the first bird."

6. "Highland Cathedral"

While not a hymn in the traditional sense, this instrumental piece is frequently used in Scottish funerals for its stirring melody that evokes the Scottish highlands and a sense of solemn dignity.

Lyric: Instrumental, often accompanied by bagpipes.

7. "Auld Lang Syne"

Traditionally sung to bid farewell to the old year, its themes of remembrance and friendship make it a poignant choice for funerals, reflecting on the times shared with the departed.

Lyric: "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?"

8. "O God, Our Help in Ages Past"

 A hymn that offers a long view of God’s providence and human life, it is comforting because it reminds us of God’s eternal presence and protection. The lyrics of this hymn can also be used on a funeral invitation or as a funeral quote.  

Lyric: "O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come."

9. "Be Thou My Vision"

With its origins in early Celtic Christian tradition, this hymn is a prayer for God to be a guiding light and vision, deeply meaningful in the context of a Scottish funeral.

Lyric: "Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art."

10. "Scotland the Brave"

Often played by bagpipers at public and private ceremonies, this piece can serve as a stirring tribute to a proud Scotsman or Scotswoman.

Lyric: Instrumental or "Hark, when the night is falling, hear, hear the pipes are calling."