Notes: This song is often played jauntily and used as a
representatively Scottish tune
particularly in
films and computer games (Lemmings 2 for example)
It deserves better. The song is a lament for a lost love
killed in battle. He will now take the "high road" (in
heaven) while Moira (his love) stays on the "low road."
They will never meet again in this life
but they will
some day meet again
far above the bonnie banks of Loch lomond.
O wither away my bonnie May(which direction) Sae late an' sae far in the gloamin' (so far in the dusk) The mist gather grey o'er moorland and brae (hill) 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
I trusted my ain love last night in the broom (own) (bush) My Donald wha' loves me sae dearly For the morrow he will march for Edinburgh toon (town) Tae fecht for his King and Prince Charlie (to fight)
O well may I weep for yestreen in my sleep (well) (yesterday) we stood bride and bridegroom together But his arms and his breath were as cold as the death And his heart's blood ran red in the heather
(chorus)
As dauntless in battle as tender in love He'd yield ne'er a foor toe the foeman (enemy) But never again frae the field o' the slain (from) Tae his Moira will he come by Loch Lomond
The thistle may bloom, the King hae his ain (have his own) And fond lovers may meet in the gloamin' And me and my true love will yet meet again Far above the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
(chorus)
