Your browser does not support the audio element. Here, and an interesting tin whistle rendition Here, an intricate violin interpretation of the song by Scottish-Italian violinist Nicola Benedetti Also of interest: an acapella male choral rendition of the standard version This romantic version of Loch Lomond is interpreted here by We have included both versions below for comparison. Unfortunately, it seems the standard version was watered down further with different lyrics more focused on romance than on fighting for the Catholic cause. It is possible that the song - with its strong Catholic and counter-revolutionary inspiration - was only able to make it to the forefront of popular music if it were “coded” into what appears to be a love song. Heather is a beautiful flower commonly found in the wild and rugged hills of Scotland. Moorland is a British term for a type of grassland or shrubland common in the UK, and Loch Lomond (Scottish Gaelic meaning “Lake of the Elms”) is a freshwater lake in central Scotland.īen Lomond is one of the hills surrounding the lake. The song also makes reference to several Scottish landmarks: By taking the low road, the soldier prefers death than to betray the Catholic cause, and it was believed that after death the soul would return to the homeland of Scotland. In this second version, the song is sung from the perspective of a Catholic Jacobite soldier captured by the English, whose “true love” is his King, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and who chooses the “ low road” – execution, out of loyalty to Prince Charles – instead of the “high road,” which would be to recant his loyalty to Prince Charles and be allowed to live life in prison in London. Is the more standard, and counter-revolutionary rendition. There are different versions of the lyrics: A more romantic version ( bottom left) is sung from the perspective of a lady who mourns the death of the brave Jacobite soldier she loved. At first glance, it can easily be understood as just a romantic song, but in fact it describes the Catholic Jacobite Uprising of 1745 against the Protestant English. Loch Lomond is a popular Scottish song first published in the 19 th century.