The Heaven-Taught Ploughman 

USA/Scotland

 Choreographed June 2014, İAndrew Carnie

 The title of the song is a common nickname for Robert Burns, the National Poet of Scotland.

Music: Blair Douglas, "The Heaven-taught Ploughman" from the album Leanaidh Mi.
Meter: 4/4
Formation: Country/Western Line dance, solo around the room facing one wall (it's a 4 wall dance)

Introduction: Start when bagpipes start playing the melody.

Part 1: Glasgow Highlander's Step, Simple version.
bar 1: Step diagonally forward on R (1), hop on R (2), Step back on L (3), hop on L (4)
 bar 2: Step R behind L (1), step L very slightly to the L (2), Step R in front of L (34)
 bars 3-4 repeat opposite footwork

Alternative part 1: Glasgow Highlander's Step, Turning version.
bar 1: Step diagonally forward on R (1), hop on R (2), Step back on L, pulling R shoulder back and starting to turn CW (3), hop on L (4)
 bar 2: Complete CW turn: Step R behind L (1), step L very slightly to the L (2), Step R in front of L (34)
 bars 3-4 repeat opposite footwork and direction (Turn CCW)

Part 2: Skip Change Step & Reel
Bar 5: Hop on L, Step forward on the ball of the R foot, close the ball of the L foot behind R, Step forward on the ball of the R, Toes should be pointed forward throughout. Both arms start to come up to "third position" (http://www.ehow.com/video_2382107_arm-positions-scottish-highland-dancing.html)
 Bar 6: Repeat opposite footwork.
 Bar 7: Hop on L foot while bringing R foot up near L shin (1), Step on R slightly in back of L (2), Hop on R foot while bringing L up near R shin (3), step on L slightly in back of R (4)
 Bar 8: repeat bar 7

Part 3: Point Step
Bar 9: Point R toe to R,  Left arm is up in 2nd position (see arm position video above) (1,2), Bring R foot up to L calf (3,4)
 Bar 10: Step R to R (1), Close L next to R (2), Step R to R (3,4), during these three steps, the L arm comes down and the R arm goes up to 2nd position.
 Bar 11-12: repeat bars 9-10 with opposite footwork, arms and direction. EXCEPT on the last step to the L in bar 12, turn a 1/4 to the L (CCW) to face the left hand wall)
 Bars 13-16, now facing L-hand wall repeat bars 9-12, except do not turn to the L (stay facing L hand wall for the next repeat of the dance.

The 5th, 8th and 12th time through the dance there is an extra bar:
Bar 17:  bounce three times on both feet (1,2,3)

Ending:
Bar 1-4: repeat bars 1-4 of glasgow highlander's step
 Bar 5: Step forward on R (1,2), then L (3,4)