Bonnie Glenshee
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1955.14.A1
Original Tape ID
Summary
Song between two lovers, which describes the landscape, inhabitants and occasional travellers through Glenshee, including shepherds and soldiers. The man implores the woman to make herself ready to go with him and he will take her to Glenisla at the foot of Glenshee.
Followed by brief conversation about the origin of the song. Charlotte Higgins does not know where the song comes from but thinks it must be hundreds of years old; she recalls hearing elderly people singing it when she was a child.
Item Notes
3 verses with chorus after each, plus chorus at start with slightly different melody to chorus line in the rest of song. Also known as 'Busk Busk Bonnie Lassie'. Most commonly associated with the singing of the Stewarts of Blair. Said to be related to PM John MacLellan's First World War pipe tune 'The Bloody Fields of Flanders'.
See:
Ord pp. 136-137
Greig, 'Folk-Song of the North-East', Art. CVII, CXLI
Greig-Duncan vol 5, pp. 494-498, no. 1053 'Oh No No'
Recording Location
County - Perthshire
Parish - Blairgowrie
Village/Place - Blairgowrie
Item Location
County - Perthshire
Parish - Kirkmichael
Village/Place - Glenshee
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Fair