Scotland's Burning

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Scotland's Burning, also known in England as London's Burning, is a traditional song and nursery rhyme that children often sing. The tune can be sung as a round, with each part starting two bars after the one before it.

The London version is thought to refer to the Great Fire of London in 1666, and the first known round on this theme dates from around 1580.

The Scottish version is believed to describe the Burning of Edinburgh in 1544, ordered by Henry VIII of England.

The song is sometimes alluded to in literature; for example, Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew mentions a warm fire.

In the Netherlands, the song is known as Brand in Mokum (Fire in Amsterdam) and is linked to the Amsterdam revolt against Napoleon in 1813.

There are various sheets of music and recordings available for Scotland's Burning.