Highland Laddie
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Highland Laddie, also known as Hielan' Laddie, is the name of an ancient Scottish popular folk tune If thou'lt play me fair play[1], but as with many old melodies, various sets of words can be sung to it and Robert Burns' poem 'Highland Laddie, Highland Lassie' has been the most memorable. Highland Regiments raised in the 18th and early 19th centuries employed many unique symbols to differentiate themselves from other regiments and enlisted distinctive music to announce their arrival, but as a result of the Cardwell Reforms of 1881, all British Army Highland Regiments were required to use 'Highland Laddie' as their Regimental March. Over time, many of these regiments had managed to return to their pre-Cardwell marches when, in 2005, the establishment of the Royal Regiment of Scotland saw the disappearance of all Scotland's historic infantry regiments and their distinctions, including music, and the adoption of a new Regimental March, "Scotland the Brave".
Highland Laddie continues to be the Regimental March of a number of British and Commonwealth regiments with Scottish affiliations. Some of these regiments include:
United Kingdom
- The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
- The Scots Guards
- The London Scottish
Canada
- 1st Air Defence Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish)
- The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
- The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
- 2nd Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders
- The Essex and Kent Scottish
- The 48th Highlanders of Canada
- The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment
- The Calgary Highlanders
Australia
- 16th Battalion (The Cameron Highlanders of Western Australia)
- 41st Battalion (The Byron Regiment)
New Zealand
- 1st Armoured Car Regiment (New Zealand Scottish)
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[edit] Settings
As a tune with martial affiliations Highland Laddie is still widely played by the regimental bands and/or pipes and drums of the Scottish regiments. As a traditional Scottish tune, Highland Laddie is also commonly played on the bagpipes for Scottish Dances. One particular Highland Dance is actually named "Highland Laddie." Typically categorized as a "Quick March," Highland Laddie is normally written in the 2/4 time. The "standard" setting contains two parts (8 bars per part). As with any of the older melodies, variations have been composed and some published with the most distinctive settings appearing in Pipe Major Wm Ross's 1885 book containing eight parts to 'Highland Laddie'. As the melody comes through time, new words have been attached to it with the most recent being Great Big Sea's Riding on a Donkey.
[edit] Canadian Settings
'Highland Laddie', as a Regimental March used by Canadian Highland regiments, demonstrates a variety of settings depending upon which music book and/or instructor was used in any particular area. Some regiments play two parts and some a four part version as their Regimental March. Not all the parts are in the same order and some are not played at all. The second part used by The Calgary Highlanders is similar to the fourth part used by the 48th Highlanders of Canada while the second part of the 48th Highlanders of Canada is not used by The Calgary Highlanders.
[edit] Lyrics
As in the case of most traditional Scottish folk songs, Highland Laddie can be sung with lyrics. One version of the tune's ancient lyrics, which obviously has much to do with Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite Rising, goes:
Where ha' ye been a' the day?
Bonnie laddie, Hielan' laddie
Saw ye him that' far awa'
Bonnie laddie, Hielan' laddie
On his head a bonnet blue
Bonnie laddie, Hielan' laddie
Tartan plaid and Hielan' trews
Bonnie laddie, Hielan' laddie
When he drew his gude braid-sword
Then he gave his royal word.
Frae the field he ne'er wad flee
Wi' his friends wad live or dee.
Geordie sits in Charlie's chair
But I think he'll no bide there.
Charlie yet shall mount the throne
Weel ye ken it is his own
There is yet another version, apparently originated from Britain's colonial dates in America:
Was you ever in Quebec?
Bonny laddie, Highland laddie,
Loading timber on the deck,
My bonny Highland laddie.
High-ho, and away she goes,
Bonny laddie, Highland laddie,
High-ho, and away she goes,
My bonny Highland laddie.
Was you ever in Callao
Where the girls are never slow?
Was you ever in Baltimore
Dancing on the sanded floor?
Was you ever in Mobile Bay,
Screwing cotton by the day?
Was you on the Brummalow,
Where Yankee boys are all the go?
There is also a third version for the tune's four-parted variation
The Lawland Lads think they are fine
But oh they're vain and idle gaudy
How much unlike the graceful mein
And manly looks o' my Highland Laddie
If I were free at will to choose
To be the wealthiest Lawland Lady
I'd tak' young Donald without trews
Wi' bonnet blue and Highland plaidie
(Chorus):
Oh my bonnie bonnie Highland Laddie
Oh my bonnie bonnie Highland Laddie
When I was sick and like to die
He rowed me in his Highland plaidie
O'er Bently Hill wi' him I'll run
And leave my Lawland kin and daddy
Frae winters chill and summers sun
He'll screen me in his Highland plaidie
A painted room, a silken bed
Maun please a Lawland Lord and Lady
But I could kiss and be as glad
Behind a bush in his Highland plaidie
Nae greater joy I'll e'er pretend
Than that his love prove true and steady
Like mine to him, which ne'er shall end
While heaven preserves my Highland Laddie
(Repeat Chorus)
This is out of the Scottish/Irish songs of Ludwig van Beethoven:
Bonny Laddie, Highland Laddie Beethoven No.7 (for Violin and Cello) Four Verses
Where got ye that siller moon, bonny laddie, highland laddie,
Glinting braw your bell a boon, bonny laddie, highland laddie?
Belted plaid and bonnet blue, bonny laddie, highland laddie,
Have yet been at Waterloo, bonny laddie, highland laddie?
Weels me on your tartan trews, bonny laddie, highland laddie,
Tell me, tell me, a’ the news, bonny laddie, highland laddie!
Saw ye Bonny by the way, bonny laddie, highland laddie?
Blucher wi’ his beard sae grey, bonny laddie highland laddie?
Or that doure and deadly Duke, bonny laddie, highland laddie,
Scatt’ring Frenchmen wi’ his look, bonny laddie, highland laddie?
Some say he the day may rue, bonny laddie, highland laddie,
Ye can tell gin this be true, bonny laddie, highland laddie.
Would yet tell me gin ye ken, bonny laddie, highland laddie,
Aught o’ Donald and his men, bonny laddie, highland laddie?
Tell me o’ my kilted Clan, bonny laddie, highland laddie,
Gin they fought, or gin they ran, bonny laddie, highland laddie?
[edit] Notes
- ^ 1. Smith, Alexander, p.264
[edit] References
- Smith, Alexander, ed. Poems Songs and Letters being the Complete Works of Robert Burns, (The Globe Edition), London, MacMillan and Co., 1868.
- Ross, William, Ross's Collection Pipe Music, London, 1885.
- Barnes, RM, The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments, London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.
[edit] See also
- Kate Dalrymple - a Scottish reel sharing the same folk-tune melody as Highland Laddie.
- Authorized marches of the Canadian Forces
