The Skye Boat Song

People on Skye seem to cringe whenever they hear this song being sung. This is not because we don't like it - but because we hear it over, and over, and over again. Tourists who come here love the song, but, unfortunately, most of them cannot sing! Or if they, can, they only know 2 lines of the chorus :-)

For those of you who don't know the story behind the song, it commemorates the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie who, with the aid of Flora MacDonald, went from Uist to Skye in a small vessel dressed as a maid.

The picture here shows the old ferry, the MV Lochalsh, which used to be the the modern way to get 'over the sea to Skye' to Kyleakin from the Mainland. The ferry was removed in 1995 when the extortionately priced Skye bridge opened (which has subsequently been REMOVED, yes, free!).

Click here to listen to a somewhat slow version of the Skye Boat Song MIDI file.

Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclaps rend the air,
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare.

Chorus:
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing,
Onward, the sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye.

2. Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,
Ocean's a royal bed.
Rock'd in the deep Flora will keep
Watch o'er your weary head.
Chorus:

3. Burned are our homes, exile and death,
Scattered the loyal man.
Yet ere the sword, cool in the sheath,
Charlie will come again.
Chorus:

Back to the Main page.