John Highlandman

John Highlandman or also 'A Highland Lad my Love was Born': This is a song in the language 'Scots'. It talks about John Highlandman who was fighting for his culture. To the Lowland authorities, John was a common thief or a dangerous insurgent. To the singer, he was a symbol of a dying culture. When she says he held the "Lalland laws in scorn," it’s because those laws were specifically designed to dismantle the highlander's culture. When the woman sings about John wearing his philibeg (kilt) and carrying a claymore, she isn't just describing his outfit—she’s describing a rebel. In the 18th century, a Highlander traveling deep into the Lowlands wasn't just a tourist; he was often seen as an invader or a bandit. By saying they "ranged all from Tweed to Spey," the speaker is claiming that the entire length of Scotland belonged to them, regardless of what the "Lalland" (Lowland) authorities said. By naming these two points, she is saying they roamed from the top to the bottom of the country. For a Highland "outlaw" to walk all the way to the English border (the Tweed) wearing forbidden tartan and carrying a broadsword was an act of incredible boldness. It was a "catch me if you can" lifestyle. Enjoy! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Melody and Songtext are original and belong to the public domain. Originally by Robert Burns in the late 1700s. Music arrangement was made with help of suno.com. #Folk #Highlands #Highlandman #Scotland #Scots #highlander #lyricsvideo #oldsong #traditional