Mingulay Boat Song
Encyclopedia
The "Mingulay Boat Song" was a sea shanty
supposed to have been sung by Scottish
fishermen
as they returned from the Atlantic
towards the Isle of Mingulay
. However, the Isle of Mingulay was abandoned in 1912, and therefore the song cannot be authentic to the isle's fishing community.
The lyrics were written by Sir Hugh S. Roberton
(1874–1952) in the 1930s. The melody is described in Songs of the Isles as a "traditional Gaelic
tune (probably Lochaber) arranged by Hugh S Roberton" , however the original tune was a pipe tune, "Creag Ghuanach"; from Lochaber
.
Sea shanty
A shanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. Shanties became ubiquitous in the 19th century era of the wind-driven packet and clipper ships...
supposed to have been sung by Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
fishermen
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
as they returned from the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
towards the Isle of Mingulay
Mingulay
Mingulay is the second largest of the Bishop's Isles in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Located south of Barra, it is known for its important seabird populations, including puffins, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and razorbills, which nest in the sea-cliffs, amongst the highest in the British...
. However, the Isle of Mingulay was abandoned in 1912, and therefore the song cannot be authentic to the isle's fishing community.
The lyrics were written by Sir Hugh S. Roberton
Hugh S. Roberton
Sir Hugh S. Roberton was a Scottish composer and Britain`s leading choral-master.Roberton was born in Glasgow, where, in 1906, he founded the Glasgow Orpheus Choir. For five years before that it was the Toynbee Musical Association. A perfectionist, he expected the highest standards of performance...
(1874–1952) in the 1930s. The melody is described in Songs of the Isles as a "traditional Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
tune (probably Lochaber) arranged by Hugh S Roberton" , however the original tune was a pipe tune, "Creag Ghuanach"; from Lochaber
Lochaber
District of Lochaber 1975 to 1996Highland council area shown as one of the council areas of ScotlandLochaber is one of the 16 ward management areas of the Highland Council of Scotland and one of eight former local government districts of the two-tier Highland region...
.
Lyrics
- 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 Minch 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
Alternate lyrics
- Chorus:
- 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 boys / how white the Minch is?
- What care we boys / of windy weather
- when we know that / every inch is
- sailing homeward / to Mingulay?
-
- Chorus
- Wives are waiting / on the pier heads,
- Gazing seaward / from the heather.
- Pull her head 'round / and we'll anchor
- 'Ere the sun sets / on Mingulay!
-
- Chorus
Notable performances
- The CorriesThe CorriesThe Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. Although the group was a trio in the early days, it was as the partnership of Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne that it is best known.-Early years:...
performed the song on their television series. - Kris DelmhorstKris DelmhorstKris Delmhorst is an American singer-songwriter who is part of the Boston folk scene. She was involved in producing 1998's Respond compilation, a fundraiser for domestic violence groups, and it included her song Weatherman. In 1999, she released a live album with The Vinal Avenue String Band,...
performs this song on her 2003 album, "Songs for a Hurricane." - Dan ZanesDan ZanesDan Zanes was a member of the popular 1980s band The Del Fuegos and is currently the front man of the Grammy-winning group Dan Zanes and Friends.-History:...
performs this song in his 2002 album Sea Songs - The IdlersThe IdlersThe Idlers of the United States Coast Guard Academy are an all-male collegiate a cappella ensemble specializing in the performance of sea shanties and patriotic music.-Overview:...
have performed this song around the world since 1957. - Heather Alexander performs this song twice on her 2006 album Arms of the Sea. The first instance is listed in the liner notes; the second version is not listed, and is located considerably past the end of the last track on the CD.
- Richard Thompson performs this song on the 2006 compilation CD, Rogue's GalleryRogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and ChanteysRogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys is a compilation album of sea shanties performed by a wide array of artists, ranging from Sting to Bryan Ferry, representing a variety of genres. The artists cover a large number of diverse songs of the sea, at times adding elements...
and on his 2009 live recording, Live WarriorLive Warrior (album)Live Warrior is a live album by Richard Thompson recorded during the 2007 tours of the UK and USA to support the Sweet Warrior album. It is released on Thompson's boutique Beeswing label....
. - Robin HallRobin HallRobin Hall was a Scottish folksinger.He was born in Edinburgh but spent his childhood years in Glasgow. After studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, he briefly became an actor....
& Jimmie MacGregorJimmie MacGregorJimmie Macgregor is a Scottish folksinger and broadcaster.He was born in Glasgow and studied at Glasgow School of Art, becoming a potter and teacher....
perform this song on their 1961 album, Scottish Choice. - The Jolly RogersThe Jolly RogersThe Jolly Rogers are a pirate-themed Renaissance folk group who perform at Renaissance fairs in the Midwest United States. Their high-energy performances of traditional sea shanties, humorous songs and improvisational comedy skits are big crowd pleasers wherever they go...
perform this song on their 2000 album, Midnight Buffet. - The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem perform this song on their 1966 album, Isn't It Grand, Boys.
- The Poxy BoggardsPoxy BoggardsThe Poxy Boggards are an American all-male folk band based in Pasadena. They were founded in 1994 at the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire. Since this time, they have achieved success in the re-burgeoning of the Irish-folk movement, playing with bands such as The Fenians...
perform this song on their 2002 album, Lager Than Life. - Susan Hickey performs this song on her 2002 album, Water Meets Sand. The lyrics differ slightly from the ones posted here and include an extra verse.
- Maid in the Myddle/The Jolly Rogers perform this song on their 1992 album, Argosy. There is an added, original verse by Maid in the Myddle.
- The Vatersay Boys mixed the song into Oidhche Bha, the final track on their album 'An Rathad a Bhatarsaigh', but notably with the word 'Mingulay' in the chorus changed to 'Vatersay'.
- Tom & Chris Kastle A Chicago, U.S. Maritime folk duo performed this on their 2005 album, "Familiar Waters"
- WolfstoneWolfstoneWolfstone are a Scottish musical group founded in 1989, who play Highland music combined with rock and roll. Their repertoire consists of both original songs and traditional folk pieces. To date, they have released seven studio albums, the latest, Terra Firma, in 2007. The band record on their own...
, a Scottish celtic rock band perform an instrumental version on their Wolfstone II CD - Casey NeillCasey NeillCasey Neill is an American musician. He leads Portland, Oregon-based band Casey Neill & The Norway Rats, singing with a raspy vocal quality and playing electric and acoustic guitars. Neill's style, folk-punk, mixes influences from punk, Celtic and folk music, and has been compared to R.E.M...
, a Portland, OR folk/punk musician, performs a version of this song (as the Casey Neill Trio) with slightly different lyrics and an additional verse, on the 1999 album Skree - Port Isaac's Fisherman's FriendsPort Isaac's Fisherman's FriendsPort Isaac's Fisherman's Friends is the third album from the British 10-strong singing group Fisherman's Friends. It was released in the UK on 26 April 2010, on Universal Records. It peaked at number 9 on the UK Albums Chart...
, is a CD of sea shanties and the like sung by a Cornish group. The singer of the Mingulay Boat Song has an unusually deep, gravelly voice. See www.PortIsaacsFishermensFriends.com.