10.13.2009

Thoughts from the Cast: Lusmore's Song

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