> Folk Music > Songs > Highland Laddie

Where Have You Been All the Day? / Highland Laddie

[ Roud 2330 ; Ballad Index FowOn025 ; trad.]

The Tannahill Weavers sang Highland Laddie on their 1983 album Passage, and on their 1992 Green Linnet album The Mermaid’s Song. They noted on the second album:

All versions of this song that we are aware of have only two verses. We have taken the liberty of putting two versions together. We have completed this musical “club sandwich” by adding a pipe tune at either end of the song. Greenwood Side is of the traditional variety and Pattie is yet another super composition from Neil Dickie.

Caledon sang Highland Laddie in 1996 on their Fenn album The Noble Trousers. This track was also included in the same year on the anthology The Scottish Folk Festival ’97. They noted:

There are many versions of this song; this one was collected by Robert Burns. The tune is dedicated to Dave Tulloch who could not appear on this recording as he suffered a stroke before going into the studio. We’re glad to say he’s now on the road to recovery.

Barbara Dymock sang Bonnie Hieland Laddie on her 2011 album Hilbert’s Hotel. She noted:

Jacobite words set to a tune called My Wee Croodlin’ Doo. It’s a traditional tune which Martin Carthy ‘recast’ for his album Shearwater and to which he sang a version of Lord Randall. It seems to chime with the up-tempo but ultimately misplaced optimism of the song.

Bonnie Laddie, Hieland Laddie whaling version

Archie Fisher sang a Dundee whaling version of Highland Laddie on the 1963 Decca album Edinburgh Folk Festival Vol. 1. I don’t know if this can alo be catalogued as Roud 2330, but I don’t find any better maching Roud number. The sleeve notes commented:

Highland Laddie, a tune too well known in tradition to need qualifying, is sung here by Archie Fisher, a young singer who has done a great deal to promote folk music in Scotland.

Nigel Gatherer printed Bonnie Laddie, Hieland Laddie in his 1985 book Songs and Ballads of Dundee. He noted:

This very fine whaling song was learned by Jim Reid from Archie Fisher. Recorded by Peter Shepheard.

Findlay Napier and Gillian Frame sang Hielan’ Laddie on the 2002 album of traditional music from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, No. 1 Scottish. The booklet noted:

This song, sometimes called The Oldest Song, was learned by Findlay from a tape sent to him by a friend. The singer on the tape was probably Archie Fisher, but he’s not sure.

Lyrics

The Tannahill Weavers sing Highland Laddie

Where have you been all the day?
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
Saw ye him that ’s far away?
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie.
On his head a bonnet blue,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
Tartan plaid and Highland trews,
    Bonnie Highland laddie.

I ha’e been at Crookie Den,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
Watching Wullie and his men,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie.
There our foes that burnt and slew,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
There at last they got their due,
    Bonnie Highland laddie.

Satan sits in yon black neuk,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
Breaking sticks toe roast the Duke,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie.
The bluidie monster gied a yell,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
Loud the lach gaed roan’ a’ Hell,
    Bonnie Highland laddie.

Geordie sits in Cherlie’s chair,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
Had I my wish he’d no’sit there,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie.
Ne’er reflect on sorrows past,
    Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
Cherlie will be king at last,
    Bonnie Highland laddie.

Caledon sing Highland Laddie

Whaur hae ye been a’ the day
    Bonnie laddie, Hielan’ laddie
Whaur hae ye been a’ the day
    Ma bonnie Hielan’ laddie
I hae been tae Crookie Den
    Bonnie laddie, Hielan’ laddie
Viewing Willie and his men
    Ma bonnie Hielan’ laddie

Satan sits in his black neuk
    Bonnie laddie, Hielan’ laddie
Breaking sticks tae bum the Duke
    Ma bonnie Hielan’ laddie
That bluidy monster gied a yell
    Bonnie laddie, Hielan’ laddie
Loud the roar went roond a’ hell
    Ma bonnie Hielan’ laddie

Lord be wi’ us frae the glens
    Bonnie laddie, Hielan’ laddie
If no wi’ us no against
    Ma bonnie Hielan’ laddie
Wi’ your impartial might
    Bonnie laddie, Hielan’ laddie
We will wi’ the Redcoats fight
    Ma bonnie Hielan’ laddie

(repeat first verse)

Jim Reid sings Bonnie Laddie, Hieland Laddie

“Whaur hae ye been a’ the day,
    Bonnie Laddie, hieland laddie;
Whaur hae ye been sae lanq away,
    My bonnie hieland laddie?”
“Well I’ve been takin fortune’s road,
    Bonnie lassie, hieland lassie.
There’s many at the whaling so I’ve been told,
    Ma bonnie hieland lassie.”

“I’ve shipped for the north on a Dundee whaler,
    Bonnie lassie, hieland lassie;
Shipped for the North as a whaling sailor,
    Ma bonnie hieland lassie.”
“But Greenland’s shores are grey and cold,
    Bonnie laddie, hieland laddie,
There’s plenty ice but not much gold,
    Ma bonnie hieland laddie.”

“When will you come back again,
    Bonnie laddie, hieland laddie;
You an’ a’ the whalin men,
    Ma bonnie hieland laddie?”
“Oh, I’ll be back when I get hame,
    Bonnie lassie, hieland lassie,
I’ll gie up this whaling game,
    Ma bonnie hieland lassie.”