As a small child, I remember my mom and grandmother singing Loch Lomond to me. At the time, the words sounded a little odd but the tones were so soothing that I would drift off to sleep in no time. It wasn’t until I was a bit older that I found out it was a song about Scotland.
I had always known that a great many of my ancestors were Scots, Scots-Irish but it wasn’t until I started researching my Scots heritage that I learned what the song was really about! As I was gathering material for the Scots-Irish Heritage Month, I found Marc Gunn’s website where he reminded me of the background about the Loch Lomond song.
Note: “Two of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s men were captured and left behind in Carlisle after the failed rising of 1745. One young soldier was to be executed, the other released. The Spirit of the dead soldier travelling by the ‘low road’ would reach Scotland before his comrade, who would be struggling along the actual road over high, rugged country.” – Marc Gunn
As usual, you will find the lyrics below and at the bottom of the page, there’s a link where can listen to the song. Please read the lyrics before playing.
Loch Lomond
Words and music – Traditional
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae,
On the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
Chorus:
Oh! Ye’ll take the high road, and I’ll take the low road,
And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
‘Twas then that we parted, In yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond,
Where, in purple hue, The highland hills we view,
And the moon coming out in the gloamin.
Chorus:
Oh! Ye’ll take the high road, and I’ll take the low road,
And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
The wee birdies sing, And the wild flowers spring,
And in sunshine the waters sleeping.
But the broken heart it kens, Nae second spring again,
Though the waeful may cease frae their greeting.
Chorus:
Oh! Ye’ll take the high road, and I’ll take the low road,
And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
Scots Translations:
bonnie: beautiful
braes: hills, river banks, steep roads
loch: lake
gloamin: dusk
wee: small
waeful: woeful
kens: knows, understands, recognizes
frae: from
Click to listen –
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Did this Scots song strike a “chord” with you or do you have any background information to add? Leave comment to let me know.
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