"O you'll take the high road and I'll take the low road, and I'll be in Scotland before you; but me and my true love will never meet again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond."
Loch Lomond - Scottish Traditional
Thanks to Lisa for suggesting this song. I think the version that I posted is a really cool rendition and even those who don't care for traditional folk songs should check it out. Click on the YouTube link on the left side of the blog.
This song was apparently written by a young soldier to his sweetheart. Two of Bonnie Prince Charlies soldiers were captured in Carlisle after the abortive rising of 1745. One wrote the song, the other was released and took it back to Scotland to give to his colleague's sweetheart. The low road refers to the soldier's impending death and the path of his spirit, whilst the high road is either the sign of hope for which he sacrificed his life, or the actual road back to Scotland over the high rugged hills. Hence, his spirit would return via the low road and be back in Scotland first.
I am not a pacifist per se, and I do believe that there are things worth fighting for, even worth dying for. But it seems that perhaps the leaders of our world have become so far removed from the suffering and the dying part of war that they forget that for every soldier lost, there is a love for whom he/she will not return.
Food for Thought: How many wars do you feel are noble and how many are needless?
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1 comment:
How interesting the national pride the Scots have. I wonder if it is because their size, almost an underdog-like essense, when compared to the so-called super-power countries. It seems the smaller the country, or the smaller the developed country, the more intense the pride seems to be.
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