In Dublin in Feb. 1983 Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy recorded "Bonnie Highland Laddie" (pronouncing it "hielan'" as above) for the album "Makem and Clancy Live at the National Concert Hall". That album jacket attributes it as "Trad. arr. T. Makem"; but now on www.makem.com the authorship and lyrics are exactly as posted above by yer man, the incomparable Masato.

As recorded in '83, though, the M & C concert rendition omits the verses starting "This Boston town...", "One of these days...", and "Farewell..." -- which gave me a helluva fright when I first glanced at the above because, not knowing those verses at all, I first registered the words

"Farewell, dear friends, I'm leaving soon and I'm bound for far away"

shortly before the signature "~Masato" --- and I roared **OHHH NOOOOOO**.../ then I saw it was just part of the song, thanks be to God. Masato, don't scare me like that! :)

But on the 1983 record Tommy & Liam also omit the above Cape Horn, Monterey, and Aberdeen stanzas; and substitute, I guess, the following:

Was you ever in Miramachi, bonnie laddie, hieland laddie,
There you tie fast to a tree, bonnie hieland laddie

Was you ever in [???], bonnie laddie, hieland laddie
Yankee boys are on the go (?), bonnie hieland laddie

Was you every in Halifax town...
Staggerin' up and staggerin' down...

Was you ever in Baltimore...
Dancin' on a sanded floor...

Was you ever in Dublin Bay...
Drinkin' porter all the day...


Aah T. Makem was always fierce at the old arrangin' & adaptin'. Still is.

I love GBS's "Donkey Riding".