Loch Lomond
Ireland's Finest Lyrics


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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 once so gay
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

So you'll take the high road
and I'll take the low road
and I'll be in Scotland afore ye
For me and my true love

will never meet again
on the bonny bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen,
on the steep steep side of Ben Lomond

where in the purple hue, the highland hills we view
and the moon comin' out in the gloamin'.
So you'll take the high road

and I'll take the low road
and I'll be in Scotland afore ye
For me and my true love
will never meet again

on the bonny bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
Well the wee birdies sing
and the wild flowers spring
in the sunshine the waters are sleepin'

but the broken hearted kens nae the second spring,
though the water is ceased fra the grievin'
the water is ceased fra the grievin'
So You take the high road and Ill take the low road,

And Ill be in Scotland afore ye.
Where me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
By yon bonnie bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,

Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond.
Where me and my true love were ever once go gay

On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
So You take the high road and I'll take the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland before ye.
Where me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
You'll take the high road and I'll take the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland before ye.
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
You'll take the high road and I'll take the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye.




Where me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

Overall Meaning

The song "Loch Lomond" by Ireland's Finest is a Scottish folk ballad about a man who has been sentenced to death for his involvement in a rebellion, and his farewell to his beloved as he is about to be executed. The lyrics describe the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond and the memories of the couple being happy there together. The chorus, "So you'll take the high road and I'll take the low road," refers to the different paths their souls will take after death, with the singer's soul taking the low road to return to Scotland while his true love's soul takes the high road to heaven. The song expresses the sadness of never being able to see his true love again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.


The first verse describes the beauty of the location, with the sun shining brightly on the loch and the bonnie banks and braes. The second verse refers to the couple's parting in a shady glen on Ben Lomond, a mountain in Scotland. The third verse mentions the wee birdies singing and wild flowers growing, but the singer's broken heart will never heal or experience a second spring, despite the world around him continuing to exist.


The song has gained international popularity and has been covered by many famous artists, including Elvis Presley and AC/DC. Many people believe that the song represents the Scottish diaspora, with the high road representing the spiritual path of returning to Scotland and the low road representing returning home in a physical sense. The song has become a symbol of Scottish identity and is often played at national events, including sporting events.


Line by Line Meaning

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
We were on the beautiful banks and hills of Loch Lomond.


Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond.
The sun was shining brightly on the beautiful Loch Lomond.


Where me and my true love were ever once so gay
My true love and I used to be so happy there.


On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
We were on the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond.


So you'll take the high road
You'll take the quicker route.


and I'll take the low road
I'll take the longer, slower route.


and I'll be in Scotland afore ye
I'll reach Scotland before you.


For me and my true love will never meet again
My true love and I will never meet again.


on the bonny bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
We will never meet again on the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond.


Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen,
We parted in a shady glen over there.


on the steep steep side of Ben Lomond
On the steep side of Ben Lomond mountain.


where in the purple hue, the highland hills we view
We saw the beautiful, purple hue of the highland hills there.


and the moon comin' out in the gloamin'.
The moon was coming out at dusk.


Well the wee birdies sing
The small birds were singing.


and the wild flowers spring
The wildflowers were blooming.


in the sunshine the waters are sleepin'
The water was still in the sunshine.


but the broken hearted kens nae the second spring,
The brokenhearted don't know if there will be a second chance at love.


though the water is ceased fra the grievin'
Even though the water has stopped grieving.


the water is ceased fra the grievin'
The water has stopped grieving.


So You take the high road and Ill take the low road,
You'll take the fast route and I'll take the slow route.


And Ill be in Scotland afore ye.
I'll be in Scotland before you.


Where me and my true love will never meet again,
My true love and I will never meet again in Scotland.


On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
We will never meet again on the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond.


By yon bonnie bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
We were on the beautiful banks and hills of Loch Lomond.


Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond.
The sun was shining brightly on the beautiful Loch Lomond.


Where me and my true love were ever once go gay
My true love and I used to be so happy there.


On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
We were on the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond.


So You take the high road and I'll take the low road,
You'll take the fast route and I'll take the slow route.


And I'll be in Scotland before ye.
I'll be in Scotland before you.


Where me and my true love will never meet again,
My true love and I will never meet again in Scotland.


On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
We will never meet again on the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond.


You'll take the high road and I'll take the low road,
You'll take the fast route and I'll take the slow route.


And I'll be in Scotland afore ye.
I'll be in Scotland before you.


Where me and my true love will never meet again,
My true love and I will never meet again in Scotland.


On the bonny bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
We will never meet again on the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond.




Writer(s): D. Reece

Contributed by Peyton M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@DariusOfPersia

By yon bonnie banks, and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright o'er Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

So, you'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

'Twas there that we parted, on yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond
Where in the purple hue, the highland hills we view
And the moon coming out in the gloaming

So, you'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

Well, the wee birdies sing, and the wildflowers spring
In the sunshine, the waters are sleeping
But the broken heart, it kens nae the second spring
Though the water may've ceased frae the greeting
The water may've ceased frae the greeting

So, you'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

By yon bonnie, bonnie banks, and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever meant to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

So, you'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

You'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

You'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond



@indianab1216

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 won't to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond

O ye'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 never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond

'Twas there that we parted, in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomond
Where in soft purple hue, the hieland hills we view
And the moon coming out in the gloaming

O ye'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 never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond

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
Though the waeful may cease from their grieving

O ye'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 never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond



All comments from YouTube:

@LadyRihoLunaGoth

I just want to say:
IRELAND’S FINEST IS THE BAND!
Please stop being rude and stuff to me in the comments, thanks 🖤

@DrunkReverend

Ireland's finest: a Scottish song about a Scottish Loch...

@theadventuresofthenorthwes1269

Justin DeSmith so true

@kaylamcook696

'I mean, Scotland and Ireland are pretty much the same thing, right?'
- Every person not of Celtic heritage

@kaguth

I think it's just the name of the band singing it.

@dalvik4162

Kayla M Cook No, a lot of people in Scotland have Nordic heritage as well,
This is noticeable with the flags of The north lands 😊

@arranwilson3029

Kayla M Cook you being serious?

27 More Replies...

@DariusOfPersia

By yon bonnie banks, and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright o'er Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

So, you'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

'Twas there that we parted, on yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond
Where in the purple hue, the highland hills we view
And the moon coming out in the gloaming

So, you'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

Well, the wee birdies sing, and the wildflowers spring
In the sunshine, the waters are sleeping
But the broken heart, it kens nae the second spring
Though the water may've ceased frae the greeting
The water may've ceased frae the greeting

So, you'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

By yon bonnie, bonnie banks, and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever meant to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

So, you'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

You'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

You'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

@montanalife3530

I've had this version come on my Irish Pandora station and keep wanting to find it, but could never remember who did it. Thanks!

But the Peter Hollens version is still the masterpiece of this tune.

@buddyandcheckerseilert354

Peter Hollens sucks.

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