Keep The Country Bonnie Lassie

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s set, cast to 3rd place, set and cast back to top
9-16 1s lead down below 2s, cross and cast down behind 3s, lead up to top and cast to 2nd place opposite sides to face 1st corners
17-24 1s set and turn 1st corners, set and turn 2nd corners
25-32 1s dance reels of 3 across passing 1st corners RSh
33-40 1s dance reels of 3 on own sides giving RSh to 3rd corner

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Keep The Country Bonnie Lassie - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

(Dance information copyright, reproduced here with the kind permission of George Williams)

The earliest known publication of the tune appears in Robert Bremner's Scots Reels, printed around 1757. It has since been preserved in numerous collections of Scottish and Irish music, including manuscripts by John Rook and William Gunn, and later anthologies such as the Athole Collection and Köhlers' Violin Repository.

The melody is typically set in the key of A major and follows a lively 2/2 time signature, characteristic of reels used in country dancing. Over the centuries, the tune has been adapted for various instruments, including fiddle, bagpipes, and accordion, and remains a popular choice in traditional dance settings. It has also been interpreted as part of Scottish Country Dance repertoires, with choreographed figures published by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

Although the title suggests a lyrical component, the piece is primarily known as an instrumental dance tune. Any associated lyrics, such as those found in Alexander Whitelaw's Book of Scottish Song (1843), are considered part of the broader folk tradition and may vary across regions and publications. The tune's enduring presence in folk music archives and dance manuals confirms its historical significance and continued relevance in Celtic musical heritage.