- In the traditional Irish folktale of Lusmore, the Hunchback, the central character finds himself amongst a gaggle of crooning fairies. Tonight at rehearsal one of our several tasks was to select a song for our retelling of the story. We chose Loch Lomond, which, though often used as a drinking song in Scotland, is actually considered by most to be a song of war and loss. Two prisoners of a Jacobite uprising are captured, one sentenced to death, and one released to tell the tale. The 'Low Road' referred to in the text of the song is, in fact, the road to the underworld.
- By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
- Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
- Where me and my true love will ne-er meet again (alternate: Where me and my true love were ever lak/wont to gae)
- On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
- Chorus:
- O you’ll tak’ the high road and I’ll tak’ the low road
- And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye
- But me and my true love will ne-er meet again
- On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
- ‘Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
- On the steep, steep sides o’ Ben Lomond
- Where deep in purple hue, the highland hills we view
- And the moon comin’ out in the gloamin’.
- Chorus
- The wee birdies sing and the wild flowers spring
- And in sunshine the waters are sleeping
- But the broken heart, it kens nae second spring again
- Tho’ the waeful may cease frae their greeting. (alternate: Tho' the world knows not how we are grieving)
- Chorus
-Michael Snyder aka Bluebeard
No comments:
Post a Comment