Traditional Scottish Songs
- Mingulay Boat Song

Mingulay is an uninhabited island with high cliffs with nesting seabirds, at the southern end of the Outer Hebrides. Fishermen returning home from the Atlantic would feel that they were nearly home when they passed by the islands.


Mingulay Boat Song

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 sea 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:

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