Loch Lomond is a popular Scottish song first published in the 19th century. At first glance, it can easily be understood as just a romantic song, but in fact it describes the Catholic Jacobite Uprising of 1745 against the Protestant English. There are different versions of the lyrics: A more romantic version (bottom left) is sung from the perspective of a lady who mourns the death of the brave Jacobite soldier she loved. The second version (bottom right)
is the more standard, and counter-revolutionary rendition.
In this second version, the song is sung from the perspective of a Catholic Jacobite soldier captured by the English, whose “true love” is his King, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and who chooses the “low road” – execution, out of loyalty to Prince Charles – instead of the “high road,” which would be to recant his loyalty to Prince Charles and be allowed to live life in prison in London. By taking the low road, the soldier prefers death than to betray the Catholic cause, and it was believed that after death the soul would return to the homeland of Scotland.
The song also makes reference to several Scottish landmarks:
Loch Lomond (Scottish Gaelic meaning “Lake of the Elms”) is a freshwater lake in central Scotland.
Ben Lomond is one of the hills surrounding the lake.
Moorland is a British term for a type of grassland or shrubland common in the UK, and
heather is a beautiful flower commonly found in the wild and rugged hills of Scotland.
It is possible that the song - with its strong Catholic and counter-revolutionary inspiration - was only able to make it to the forefront of popular music if it were “coded” into what appears to be a love song. Unfortunately, it seems the standard version was watered down further with different lyrics more focused on romance than on fighting for the Catholic cause. We have included both versions below for comparison.
This romantic version of Loch Lomond is interpreted here by
Roy Williamson and The Corries. Also of interest: an acapella male choral rendition of the standard version
here, an intricate violin interpretation of the song by Scottish-Italian violinist Nicola Benedetti
here, and an interesting tin whistle rendition
here.
Listen to Loch Lomond
Romantic Version - Scots lyrics:
O wither away my bonnie May
Sae late an' sae far in the gloamin'
The mist gathers grey o'er moorland and brae
O wither sae far are ye roamin'?
Chorus: O ye'll tak the high road an' I'll tak the low
I'll be in Scotland afore ye
For me and my true love will never meet again
By the bonnie bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
O well may I weep for yestreen in my sleep,
We stood bride and bridegroom together.
But his arms & breath were as cold as the death
And his heart's blood ran red on the heather
I trusted my ain love last night in the broom
My Donald wha' loves me sae dearly
For the morrow he will march for Edinburgh toon
Tae fecht for his King and Prince Charlie
Chorus
As dauntless in battle as tender in love
He'd yield ne'er a foot tae the foeman
But never again frae the field o' the slain
Tae his Moira will he come by Loch Lomond
The thistle may bloom, the King hae his ain
And fond lovers may meet in the gloamin'
And me and my true love will yet meet again
Far above the bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
Chorus
Standard Version - Scots Lyrics:
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond,
Where me & my true love were ever wont to gae,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.
O ye'll tak' the high road an' I'll tak' the low,
And I'll be in Scotland a'fore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.
'Twas there that we parted, in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomond,
Wher'n soft purple hue, the highland hills we view,
And the moon coming out in the gloaming (dusk).
O ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland a'fore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.
The wee birdies sing and the wildflowers spring,
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping.
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again,
Though the waeful may cease frae their grieving.
O ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland a'fore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.
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