Mingulay Boat Song
Traditional
Released: October, 2008
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Migulay Boat Song History
The premise of the “Mingulay Boat Song” is that it would be sung by Scottish fishermen as they returned from the Atlantic towards the Isle of Mingulay.
The lyrics were penned by Sir Hugh S. Roberton (1874-1952) in the 1930s. The melody is described in Songs of the Isles as a “traditional Gaelic tune (probably Lochaber) arranged by Hugh S Roberton”. In fact, the original tune was a pipe tune, “Creag Guanach”; from Lochaber. Moreover, the isle itself was abandoned in 1912, and therefore the song is not, as popularly fancied, authentic to the isle’s fishing community.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Mingulay Boat Song Lyrics
CHORUS:
Heel yo ho, boys; let her go, boys;
Heave her head round, into the weather,
Heel yo ho, boys, let her go, boys
Sailing homeward to Mingulay
What care we though, white the Minch is?
What care we for wind or weather?
Let her go boys; every inch is
Sailing homeward to Mingulay.
CHORUS
Wives are waiting, by the pier head,
Or looking seaward, from the heather;
Pull her round, boys, then you’ll anchor
‘Ere the sun sets on Mingulay.
CHORUS
Ships return now, heavy laden
Mothers holdin’ bairns a-cryin’
They’ll return, though, when the sun sets
They’ll return to Mingulay.
CHORUS x2
