Brexit has revived talk of Scottish independence, a topic that always reminds me of this song in which Scottish twins Charlie and Craig Reid proclaimed their support for cutting ties with England. They wrote this more than 30 years ago and still perform it today.
I saw the band on its first American tour in 1989, and this was the song in the set that stood out for its intense delivery. They weren’t just singing “I can’t understand why we let someone else rule our land” because it flows nicely. They meant it. Scottish nationalism even affected their decision to sing in their native accents. “It was a conscious thing,” Craig Reid said, “because we were singing about where we live, our experiences and it just felt stupid to sing in an English or American accent.”
Of course, the Proclaimers are famous for “500 Miles,” which has taken on a life of its own since it was used in the film “Benny and Joon” in 1993 — five years after it appeared on their 1988 LP “Sunshine on Leith,” which also included “Cap in Hand.” When “500 Miles” was re-released to take advantage of the movie it reached No. 8 in Billboard, the band’s only American chart appearance. “Cap in Hand” was released as a single in 2014, when it reached No. 62 on the UK charts.
