The Martin Luther King Jnr Day is held on the 3rd Monday in January every year. This day, honours and commemorates his memory, achievements and the ongoing work for Civil Rights, not just in the USA but around the world.

The Freedom Come-All-Ye

by Hamish Henderson

Roch the wind in the clear day’s dawin

Blaws the cloods heelster-gowdie ow’r the bay,

But there’s mair nor a roch wind blawin

Through the great glen o’ the warld the day.

It’s a thocht that will gar oor rottans

– A’ they rogues that gang gallus, fresh and gay –

Tak the road, and seek ither loanins

For their ill ploys, tae sport and play



Nae mair will the bonnie callants

Mairch tae war when oor braggarts crousely craw,

Nor wee weans frae pit-heid and clachan

Mourn the ships sailin’ doon the Broomielaw.

Broken faimlies in lands we’ve herriet,

Will curse Scotland the Brave nae mair, nae mair;

Black and white, ane til ither mairriet,

Mak the vile barracks o’ their maisters bare.



So come all ye at hame wi’ Freedom,

Never heed whit the hoodies croak for doom.

In your hoose a’ the bairns o’ Adam

Can find breid, barley-bree and painted room.

When MacLean meets wi’s freens in Springburn

A’ the roses and geans will turn tae bloom,

And a black boy frae yont Nyanga

Dings the fell gallows o’ the burghers doon.