| By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
|
| Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomon'
|
| Where me and my true love were ever won’t to gae
|
| On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'
|
| O ye’ll tak' the high road and I’ll tak the low road
|
| An' I’ll be in Scotland afore ye;
|
| But me and my true love will never meet again
|
| On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'
|
| 'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
|
| On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomon'
|
| Where in purple hue the Hieland hills we view
|
| An' the moon comin' out in the gloamin'
|
| The wee birdies sing and the wild flow’rs spring
|
| And in sunshine the waters are sleepin';
|
| But the broken heart it kens nae second spring
|
| Tho' the waefu' may cease frae their greetin'
|
| Composer’s name unknown
|
| Notes:
|
| Lomon' is short for Lomond, it is probably spelled this way to allow
|
| The second verse to rhyme
|
| There are a number of variations to this song, probably the most well known
|
| Scottish song after 'auld lang syne'
|
| Of Bonnie Prince Charlies soldiers were captured in Carlisle after the
|
| Abortive rising of 1745. One wrote the song, the other was released and
|
| Took it back to Scotland to give to his colleagues sweetheart. |
| The low
|
| Road refers to the soldiers impending death and the path of his spirit
|
| Whilst the high road is either the sign of hope for which he sacrificed
|
| His life, or the actual road back to Scotland over the high rugged hills
|
| Hence, his spirit would return via the low road and be back in Scotland
|
| First |