Hmmm... the Corries' version is faster than the 3/4 time one? It doesn't seem that way to me.

Listen closely to the pace of the words, and it's about the same speed, just the guitar beat is faster. I mean it probably takes as long to sing it in 3/4 (or 6/8) as in 4/4, but the guitar strums have to come faster.

As for which version is best, I have to say that I love it in the three-beat version, whether it's 3/4 or a slow 6/8 (you could even do it in a jazz 12, if you had to really 'trick it out' -- God help us). In any case I love the song as it's usually done these days. There's something incredibly strong about the opening notes of the chorus, and it always makes me cry (I can't even sing along). There are songs that do that for me, and this is one of 'em.

I thought the Corries' version vitiated every atom of emotion in the song. Sorry for my opinion, but that's how I see it. It might as well have been Celtic bluegrass.

Songbob