Mingulay Boat Song

The "Mingulay Boat Song" was a sea shanty supposed to have been sung by Scottish fishermen as they returned from the Atlantic towards the Isle of Mingulay.^{[citation needed]} However, the Isle of Mingulay was abandoned in 1912, and therefore the song cannot be authentic to the isle's fishing community.^{[citation needed]}

The lyrics were written 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"^{[citation needed]}, however the original tune was a pipe tune, "Creag Ghuanach"; from Lochaber.^{[citation needed]}

Lyrics

Chorus:

Heel y'ho boys, let her go, boys

Bring her head round now all together

Heel y'ho boys, let her go boys

Sailing homeward to Mingulay!

What care we tho' white the Minch is

What care we for wind and weather?

Let her go boys, every inch is

Wearing homeward to Mingulay!

Chorus

Wives are waiting on the bank, boys, .

Looking seaward from the heather.

Pull her 'round boys, and we'll anchor

'Ere the sun sets at Mingulay!

Chorus

Alternate lyrics

Chorus:

Heel y'ho boys / let her go boys

Bring her head round / into the weather

Heel y'ho boys / let her go boys

Sailing homeward / to Mingulay!

What care we boys / how white the Minch is?

What care we boys / of windy weather

when we know that / every inch is

sailing homeward / to Mingulay?

Chorus

Wives are waiting / on the pier heads,

Gazing seaward / from the heather.

Pull her head 'round / and we'll anchor

'Ere the sun sets / on Mingulay!

Chorus

Notable performances

• The Corries performed the song on their television series.
• Kris Delmhorst performs this song on her 2003 album, "Songs for a Hurricane."
• Dan Zanes performs this song in his 2002 album Sea Songs
• The Idlers have performed this song around the world since 1957.
• Heather Alexander performs this song twice on her 2006 album Arms of the Sea. The first instance is listed in the liner notes; the second version is not listed, and is located considerably past the end of the last track on the CD.
• Richard Thompson performs this song on the 2006 compilation CD, Rogue's Gallery and on his 2009 live recording, Live Warrior.
• Robin Hall & Jimmie MacGregor perform this song on their 1961 album, Scottish Choice.
• The Jolly Rogers perform this song on their 2000 album, Midnight Buffet.
• The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem perform this song on their 1966 album, Isn't It Grand, Boys.
• The Poxy Boggards perform this song on their 2002 album, Lager Than Life.
• Susan Hickey performs this song on her 2002 album, Water Meets Sand. The lyrics differ slightly from the ones posted here and include an extra verse.
• Maid in the Myddle/The Jolly Rogers perform this song on their 1992 album, Argosy. There is an added, original verse by Maid in the Myddle.
• The Vatersay Boys mixed the song into Oidhche Bha, the final track on their album 'An Rathad a Bhatarsaigh', but notably with the word 'Mingulay' in the chorus changed to 'Vatersay'.
• Tom & Chris Kastle A Chicago, U.S. Maritime folk duo performed this on their 2005 album, "Familiar Waters"
• Wolfstone, a Scottish celtic rock band perform an instrumental version on their Wolfstone II CD
• Casey Neill, a Portland, OR folk/punk musician, performs a version of this song (as the Casey Neill Trio) with slightly different lyrics and an additional verse, on the 1999 album Skree
• Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends, is a CD of sea shanties and the like sung by a Cornish group. The singer of the Mingulay Boat Song has an unusually deep, gravelly voice. See www.PortIsaacsFishermensFriends.com.