Loch Lomond - Celtic Spirit

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

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