Audio

1. 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. 
   
2. Chorus
   Oh ye'll tak' the high road An' I'll tak' the low road
   And I'll be in scotland afore ye
   For me and my true love will never meet
   Again on the bonnie bonny banks of Loch Lomond
   .
3. We'll meet where we parted, in yon shady glen
   On the steep steep side, of Ben Lomond
   Where in purple hue, the hie-lands we view
   And the moon looks out, frae the gloamin'
   Chorus
   
   
4. Still fair is the scene, but ah! how changed
   Are the hopes that we fondly cherished
   Like a wa-t'ry gleam, like a morning dream
   On Cul-lo-dens field, they ha'e per-rished
   Chorus
   
   
5. The wild flowers spring, and the wee birds sing
   And in sun-shine the waters, are sleepin'
   But the broken heart, a kens nae second spring
   And re-sign'd we may be, tho' we're greetin'
   Chorus

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 At the time in Scottish history when "Loch Lomond" was a new song, the United Kingdom (which united Scotland, England, and Wales) had already been formed. But the Highland Scots wanted a Scottish, not an English King to rule. Led by their Bonnie Prince Charlie (Prince Charles Edward Stuart) they attempted unsuccessfully to depose Britain's King George II. An army of 7,000 Highlanders were defeated on April 16, 1746 at the famous Battle of Culloden Moor.

 

It is this same battle that indirectly gives rise to this beautiful song. After the battle, many Scottish soldiers were imprisoned within England's Carlisle Castle, near the border of Scotland. "Loch Lomond" tells the story of two Scottish soldiers who were so imprisoned. One of them was to be executed, while the other was to be set free. According to Celtic legend if someone dies in a foreign land, his spirit will travel to his homeland by "the low road" - the route for the souls of the dead. In the song, the spirit of the dead soldier shall arrive first, while the living soldier will take the "high road" over the mountains, to arrive afterwards.

 

The song is from the point of view of the soldier who will be executed: When he sings, "ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak' the low road" in effect he is saying that you will return alive, and I will return in spirit. He remembers his happy past, "By yon bonnie banks ... where me and my true love were ever wont to gae [accustomed to go]" and sadly accepts his death "the broken heart it ken nae [knows no] second Spring again."