Some time ago I heard or read the "story behind" the song Loch Lomond, but I'd forgotten most of it. I've been hunting for it, and finally got around to searching this thread.

The story I heard was similar to that posted by Tim Jaques early in this thread and it brought back some of my memory. The part about Scots highlanders in prison after Culloden and the part about one about to die fits with the story I'd read. The difference is that in the story I'd come across, it's about two brothers. One is to be released and the other learns that he will hang. He writes the verse, for his brother on the eve of his brother's release, telling him,"Ye'll tak the high road and I'll tak the low road, but I'll be in Scotland before ye." The meaning of that is as given in Tim's version. The brother to be released will take the overland road (high road) but the one about to die will take the spirit road (low road). The spirit of the latter will actually reach Scotland first. (This would suggest that they were in a prison in England. As I remember from reading John Prebble's "Culloden" many of the prisoners were taken to England, before being hanged, transported or reprieved.) What I'd like to know is how much of any these "stories" about the origin of Loch Lomond is true, or were they all made up after the fact? Has anyone else come across the story as I've described it?

Reiver 2