"The Mingulay Boat Song"

This stunning Richard Thompson version of "The Mingulay Boat Song" was recorded for the "Rogues Gallery" album. This album was produced by Johnny Depp and Hal Willner, and was a collection of cover versions of sea shanties and pirate songs released in connection with the "Pirates of the Carribian" movies. Hal Willner has also produced tribute albums of Kurt Weill songs, Walt Disney songs, Leonard Cohen songs, Nino Rota tunes, Thelonious Monk tunes etc. Basically a man of great taste.

"The Mingulay Boat Song" is sort of an artificial sea shanty. The tune is an old gaelic tune, but the lyrics were written in 1930. The Island of Mingulay had been abandoned by its population in 1912, so the song had a nostalgic feel already in 1930.



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