Mingulay Boat Song

Composed and written by Sir Hugh Roberton of the Orpheus Choir of Glasgow, who also composed the famous Westering Home and Mairi's Wedding.^[1] It has become a folk standard, performed by a wide variety of musicians.

The Longest Johns' version appears as the fourth track on Between Wind and Water.

Factoids[]

Mingulay is an island in the Outer Hebrides, in Scotland. It was home for a time to a small crofting and fishing community, but by 1912 was completely abandoned due to isolation, infertile land, lack of a proper landing place and absentee landlord problems. The song doesn't appear to have any actual connection to the island or its former inhabitants.^[2]

The Minch is the body of water separating the Outer Hebrides, including Mingulay, from the Inner Hebrides and the Scottish mainland. The water being white would indicate rough seas (lots of whitecaps and foam).^[3]

Lyrics[]

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their album Between Wind and Water. The original lyrics can be found here.

{Chorus}
Heave 'er ho, boys; let her go, boys;
Swing her head round, into the weather,
Heave 'er ho, boys; let her go, boys;
Sailing homeward to Mingulay

What care we though, white the Minch is?
What care we, boys, for windy weather?
When we know that every inch is
Sailing homeward to Mingulay

{Chorus}

Wives are waiting, by the pier head,
Gazing seaward, from the heather;
Bring her 'round, boys, then we'll anchor
'ere the sun sets on Mingulay.

{Chorus}

Ships return now, heavy laden
Mothers holdin' bairns a-cryin'
They'll return, yet, when the sun sets
Sailing homeward to Mingulay.

{Chorus 2x}

Recordings[]

Streaming/Purchase[]

YouTube Videos[]

Gig Videos[]

Full Band Streams[]

Gaming Streams[]

[1] ttps://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=9698#64585

[2] ttps://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=9698#64585

[3] ttps://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=9698#63391

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