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Highland Laddie, also known as Hielan' Laddie, is the name of an ancient Scottish popular folk tune. Although the origin of the tune is long lost, it is known that Highland Regiments throughout the British Army have adopted this tune as their Regimental March in 1881. While some of these regiments have adopted different tunes as their Regimental March throughout the centuries, Highland Laddie continues to be the Regimental March of a number of British and Commonwealth regiments with Scottish affiliations. Some of these regiments include: The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...
1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...
The English noun Commonwealth dates originally from the fifteenth century. ...
United Kingdom
Canada The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) (named The Royal Highland Regiment (The Black Watch) before 1931) was an infantry regiment of the British Army. ...
Official name Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louises) Colonel-in-Chief HM Queen Elizabeth II Nicknames Motto Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris Anniversaries Balaklava (25 October) Marches Quick: The Highland Laddie Quick: The Campbells Are Coming Charge: Monymusk Funerals: Lochaber No More Mascot A Shetland Pony called Cruachan Description Infantry...
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (SCOTS DG) is the senior Scottish regiment of the British Army and Scotlands only cavalry regiment. ...
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division, and have a long and proud history stretching back hundreds of years. ...
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Brigade Group, Land Force Quebec Area. ...
The 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian militia (i. ...
The Calgary Highlanders are a Land Force Reserve Infantry Regiment, headquartered at Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ...
The Essex and Kent Scottish is a reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of The Essex Scottish Regiment and The Kent Regiment. ...
The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces. ...
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As a tune with martial affiliations Highland Laddie is still widely played currently 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). Pipes and drums are synonymous with pipe band, and both commonly refer to bands comprised of musicians who play the Scottish Highland bagpipes and drums. ...
A piper playing the Great Highland Bagpipe. ...
Canadian Settings Some regiments in Canada play a four part version as their Regimental March. Not all the parts are the same; the Black Watch (RHR) of Canada plays a different setting, for example, than the Calgary Highlanders. The latter regiment played two parts until 1983 when Pipe Major R.W. Henderson arranged an additional two parts. After Henderson's departure in the 1990s, Pipe Major "Dusty" Rhodes reverted the tune back to two parts (his predecessor had not been popular to many). As of 2005, the Regiment is still playing two parts though Pipe Major Michael Giles has announced a return to the four part setting. The Calgary Highlanders also have a traditional, if unofficial, attachment to All the Blue Bonnets Are O'er The Border, as some references list it as an official marchpast along with Highland Laddie. The Highlanders use Blue Bonnets to march the Colours on and off but the official march past in quick time has always been "Highland Laddie."
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: For the U.S. politician, see Charles E. Stuart Bonnie Prince Charlie Charles Edward Louis Philip Casimir Stuart (December 31, 1720 – January 31, 1788), was the exiled claimant to the thrones of Ireland, commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. Charles was the son of James Francis Edward Stuart, the Old...
Each Jacobite Rising formed part of a series of military campaigns by Jacobites attempting to restore the Stuart kings to the thrones of England and Scotland (and after 1707, Great Britain) after James VII of Scotland and II of England was deposed in 1688 and the thrones claimed by his...
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)
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