The Scottish myth of taking the low road. #scottishhistory #lochlomond #youtubehighfive

The myth behind the lyrics to Loch Lomond about the difference of the low road and the high road.

[ninettegok]

Thank you Tony. I really enjoyed learning about the music and what it means. 😊

[aprilstar]

What a beautiful saying as am I from the US and my ancestry goes straight back to Scotlands shores . I would love 💕to make my end days there .My grandmother’s maiden name was McGuagge, I miss her so .

[upurkilt]

At the time in Scottish history when "Loch Lomond" was a new song, the United Kingdom (which united Scotland, England, and Wales) had already been formed. But the Highland Scots wanted a Scottish, not an English King to rule. Led by their Bonnie Prince Charlie (Prince Charles Edward Stuart) they attempted unsuccessfully to depose Britain's King George II. An army of 7, 000 Highlanders were defeated on April 16, 1746 at the famous Battle of Culloden Moor.

It is this same battle that indirectly gives rise to this beautiful song. After the battle, many Scottish soldiers were imprisoned within England's Carlisle Castle, near the border of Scotland. "Loch Lomond" tells the story of two Scottish soldiers who were so imprisoned. One of them was to be executed, while the other was to be set free. According to Celtic legend if someone dies in a foreign land, his spirit will travel to his homeland by "the low road" - the route for the souls of the dead. In the song, the spirit of the dead soldier shall arrive first, while the living soldier will take the "high road" over the mountains, to arrive afterwards.

The song is from the point of view of the soldier who will be executed: When he sings, "ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak' the low road" in effect he is saying that you will return alive, and I will return in spirit. He remembers his happy past, "By yon bonnie banks ... where me and my true love were ever wont to gae [accustomed to go]" and sadly accepts his death "the broken heart it ken nae [knows no] second Spring again.... 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[RoseMarieM]

No wonder that song brings out lots of emotions

[juzferus]

Excellent fact Tony, one I’ll always remember ❤

[GeorgeKemp]

I had no idea that was the real meaning of the lyrics to Loch Lomond... the lyrics never really made much sense to me despite being born and bred here for the last 59 years, thank you for the education :)

[amygreen]

Thank you for another installment of things I didn't know I didn't know about Scotland, (Professor Broonford) Tony!! WoW, that truly warms my heart. I can't wait to share this knowledge with my friends!💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

[ladysarah]

Never got that - thanks for sharing from Aberdeenshire🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤚🏻

[Steve-Duh-Rino]

Cool! What a beautiful country to return’ to!

[kellyshomemadekitchen]

Wow, had no idea this was the definition of taking the low road! Thank you so much for your interesting posts!

[susanforsyth]

I never knew that, the song means more to me now.

[Rain-Peters]

Aww damn! I liked that song! Now it will just make me cry

[Tea-nOpals]

I have known this song all my life and never knew the real meaning of the low road. ❤

[jenniferwaugh]

I’m glad this man is posting the things of Scotland. I am Scottish and proud of it. I went with my family to see Edenbourgh Castle, and where my grandfather was born

[nicolamoffat]

I did not know this - learn something new everyday.

[vcrossCelticfc]

As someone in England, this really made me smile. How did I never know that in 5 decades.

[jasonweiss]

Thank you so much for explaining that for me, I never knew....I grew up in America and just found out that I have Scottish heritage and wondered why I always loved this version do you use for this video, I would love to hear the whole version to see if it's the one from my childhood, thanks again for the info, I appreciate the song so much more now!

[iancampbell]

I didn’t know that and my father was Scotts

[susancripps]

Like this channel! I know what I have to see next trip to Edinburgh.

[austudios]

Okay hi Tony I'm already in Scotland 😅