By coincidence, someone posted the lyrics on the Scots Music mailing list, to which I of course subscribe.

The lyrics follow, with his explanation at the beginning. Someone else posted a historical explanation of the song, if anyone is interested.

Regards,

Tim

The Corries recorded a version of it which has more verses than I've heard anywhere else. I think I heard it on their Silver Collection album. I can confirm for Kate that it is most certainly a lament - it is sung by a woman whose sweetheart has just gone off to battle (I think on Bonny Prince Charlie's behalf); she remembers their parting, and (in the Corries' version) has a dream of their wedding, but she's marrying a dead man.

Here's the words (taken from http://www.epix.net/~lesley/folk.html with the one extra verse I can remember inserted in the middle.

LOCH LOMOND

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Oh we twa ha'e pass'd sae mony blithesome days,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

CHORUS:
Oh ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak' the low road,
An' I'll be in Scotland before ye',
But wae is my heart until we meet again
On the Bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

I mind where we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomon'
Where in purple hue the highland hills we view
And the morn shines out frae the gloamin'

Chorus

[The extra Corries verse I can remember:]
An' weel may I weep for yestreen in my sleep
We stood bride and bridegroom together,
But his face and his breath were as cold as the death,
And his heart's blood ran red in the heather.

Chorus

[Back to the standard version:]
The wee bird may sing an' the wild flowers spring;
An' in sunshine the waters are sleepin'
But the broken heart it sees nae second spring,
And the world does na ken how we're greetin'.