Mingulay Boat Song

Heel ya ho, boys, let her go, boys,
Heave her head ‘round into the weather
Heel ya ho, boys, let her go, boys,
Sailing homeward to Mingulay

What care we how white the minch is
What care we for the wind and weather
For we know that every inch is
Sailing closer to Mingulay

Wives are waiting at the pierhead
Looking seaward into the weather
Heave her ‘round, boys, and we’ll anchor
E’er the sun sets on Mingulay

Far beyond the straits of Cooley,
We can see our own land of heather,
And you know, boys, candles glow, boys
Lighting the windows of Mingulay

(optional)
Ships return now, heavy laden
Mothers holdin’ their bairns a-cryin’
We’ll return though, when the sun sets,
We’ll return then to Mingulay