Mingulay Boat Song

We are workers at the hawser

We are workers since break of day

We are workers at the hawser

As the sun sets on Mingulay

 

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 though white the Minch is

What care we for wind and weather?

Let her go boys, every inch is

Sailing homeward to Mingulay

 

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

 

Wives are waiting by the pier head

or looking seaward from the heather.

Pull her ’round boys, and we’ll anchor

‘ere the sun sets on Mingulay

 

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

 

Ships return now, heavy laden

Mothers holdin’ their bairns a-cryin’

They’ll return though, when the sun sets

They’ll return back to Mingulay

 

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