Thursday Tunes: Bryn Terfel sings Loch Lomond

I can't believe that I haven't talked about Bryn Terfel already! He is Welsh, and he has the most incredible voice that you'll ever hear. We saw him in concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Christmas a few years back. The latest that we've seen of him has been in the Met's new production of the Ring cycle for their Live in HD series. Here he is singing one of my favorites, Loch Lomond.

Thursday Tunes: Loch Lomond

In the past couple of years, I've taken some bagpipe lessons. You start by learning to play a practice chanter (looks like this), and that's where I am. Who knows if I'll ever move on to the actual pipes, but I love to listen to them just the same. A traditional tune that has multiple meanings to me is Loch Lomond. A version of the song by a kind of punk band from Nova Scotia is below followed by the lyrics.

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae,
On the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

Oh! Ye'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

'Twas then that we parted, In yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond,
Where, in purple hue, The highland hills we view,
And the moon coming out in the gloaming.

The wee birdies sing, And the wild flowers spring,
And in sunshine the waters sleeping.
But the broken heart it kens, Nae second spring again,
Though the waeful may cease frae their greeting.