Music Monday: Mingulay Boat Song

Editor’s Note: Mingulay is the second largest of the Bishop's Isles in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Located 12 miles (19 km) south of Barra

The Minch also called North Minch, is a strait in north-west Scotland, separating the north-west Highlands and the northern Inner Hebrides from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. The Lower Minch also known as the Little Minch, is the Minch's southern extension, separating Skye from the lower Outer Hebrides: North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Barra etc. It opens into the Sea of the Hebrides. The Little Minch is the northern limit of the Sea of the Hebrides.

The Longest Johns are a Bristol based, a cappella folk music band, born out of a mutual love of traditional folk songs and shanties.
https://www.thelongestjohns.com/

Mingulay Boat Song - The Longest Johns

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.
​
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.

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Thanks to HRMM volunteer Mark Heller for sharing his knowledge of Hudson River music history for this series.

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