Mingulay Boat Song
Hugh S. Robertson, 1938· Irish Songs · p.393
Chorus:
C F C
Heave ya ho, boys, let her go, boys
G7 F
Heave her head round and all together
C
Heave ya ho, boys, let her go, boys
G7 C
Sailing homeward to Mingulay
C
What care we how white the Minch is?
G7 F
What care we, boys, for windy weather?
C
When we know that every inch is
G7 C
Close, so homeward to Mingulay (Chorus)
Wives are waiting at the pier head
Gazing seaward from the heather
Heave her head round and we'll anchor
Ere the sun sets on Mingulay (Chorus)
When the wind is wild and shouting
And the waves mount, ever higher
Anxious eyes turn ever seaward
To see us home boys, to Mingulay (Chorus)
Ships return now, heavy laden
Mothers holdin' bairns a-cryin'
They'll return, though, when the sun sets
They'll return to Mingulay. (Chorus)
* The island of Mingulay has been uninhabited since 1912 (wikipedia.org)