Scottish Folk Music

One of the first images that comes to mind when we hear "Scottish folk music" is a man in a plaid kilt, playing the bagpipes.

Scottish music was influenced by the Irish and vice versa, yet each country has its own distinctive flavor or music.

There are other folk music instruments that have been popular in Scotland as well. The guitar and the fiddle are common stringed instruments. Various drums are an integral part of many scotch tunes. The accordion and the harp as well as the old tin whistle have their places in Scottish music history.

Which Scottish folk songs made it to America and are still well known even today?

Scottish Folk Songs

The following Scottish folk music songs made it across the ocean to the U.S. and you may even recognize several of them to this day. Most are very old folk tunes. The most famous is a national tradition for New Year Celebrants - when we say "goodbye" to the old year, and welcome in the New Year.

• Auld Lang Syne
  This is an ancient Scottish song that had many titles and versions. Not only a New Years' Eve song, but popular also at reunions and sentimental celebrations.
  

  It probably originated as far back as 1625.

• Annie Laurie - 1838
  (Written by a Scotch lady)

• Flow Gently Sweet Afton - 1838
  The words were written by the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

• Wearing of the Green - 1867
  This melody appears to have been taken from a tune composed in 1757. It is a Scottish melody that was adapted by the Irish.

• My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean - 1882
  This was originally a Scottish folk song that became popular in the U.S.

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