 J. R. Bannerman, who composed the original song, was born in South Uist but left aged seven for Glasgow, where he later joined the General Post Office (GPO) as a telegraph boy and rose to become general superintendent.He was brought up in the Glasgow Gaelic community where most social activities were conducted in Gaelic and he developed a lifelong interest in the songs and literature of that culture.His son, John MacDonald Bannerman, became a well known Gaelic broadcaster and singer, but was better known as a rugby international (37 caps for Scotland; Oxford Blue) and Liberal politician, ultimately being ennobled as John Bannerman, Baron Bannerman of Kildonan.