The Corries - Mingulay Boat Song

www.corries.com
The Official Corries Website
The Corries - Mingulay Boat Song

[@chrisallen9949]

Yesterday, I had a sudden urge to hear this beautiful song again. It was of my mother's favourites and she often sang it. She passed away on the 23rd of July 2011. Thank you.

[@JedRichards]

Maybe the best rendition of this song I've found on KZbin. My late father used to sing this to me to send me to sleep when I was a wee lad - except it didn't work, I just asked him to sing it again and again. I can't remember ever feeling so safe ❤

[@steviesvideos319]

Wonderful memory

[@stevenmousley]

Try Scafell Pike version very good

[@colincrooky]

I did the same to my daughter and it never failed to send her to sleep.

[@josephwright108]

I had the fortune to play this tune in Mingulay on my pipes when i was 15 years old. I went to Scotland with my folks back in 1985.

[@alunepps4272]

I sang this on Mingulay in 1982

[@BenJeckett]

My ancestors ( Macphee ) immigrated to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada many moons ago. They came from this small island. Very cool to find a song about Mingulay!

[@Deejaay83urj38]

Awesome

[@julistarling8382]

❤💙💜 "My heart's in Cape Breton" is also a song by the way.

[@yungjoemighty879]

This is your music too

[@tomobedlam297]

My darling wife was a MacPhee. Her lot emigrated to New Zealand when they couldnay raise the wind for Scotland.

[@donaldmacphee2343]

Hello, fellow clansmen (and women!)

[@RiccardoBarboni]

this song makes me feel nostalgic about places I didn't see.

[@ftargr]

genetic memory

[@TheDustysix]

It makes me nostalgic for Insane Asylums.

[@KoreanMeatball]

Fuck them. You'll get it. Once you're sittin by a loch. The water lapping by your feet. Scotland can only be described by go the fuck away.

[@marinacatanese1029]

Souls' places

[@wolf-uweostermann502]

Yea, I know, there are the Dubliners - whom I love, too, - but nothing surpasses the Corries!

[@KittyStarlight]

"What care we, though, white the Minch is, What care we for wind and weather, What care we when every inch is, Sailing homeward to Mingulay." Home. 🏠🏡🏘️ Written about a home that isn't there any more. (Historical time travel, sort of. ⭐🌟⭐) Beautiful. ❤️💙❤️

[@TheBracer18]

The Longest Johns brought me here! Bless those lads!!

[@kaikito7662]

Sounds painful.

[@Hunt3RMH]

​@@kaikito7662 may i ask why ?

[@aileenlightbody91]

The Corries were the greatest folk group ever. Roy's premature death was a real tragedy

[@virginiaconnor8350]

What happened to him?

[@alanfinnegan464]

@@virginiaconnor8350 brain tumor in 1990

[@HMGarth]

Roy was still performing till late 1989, and he died of a brain tumour in August 1990. He was only 54 😢

[@julistarling8382]

😥

[@fairdinkum9454]

Roy is a Scottish icon 💕🙏🏻

[@whitneymacdonald4396]

So sweet to see people singing songs they all know. A reminder that these songs came from the "folk." We still need this sense of community.

[@julistarling8382]

This one apparently is in the process of *becoming* a folk song (see other posts).

[@moragmckay7673]

Not long had a computer and I'm spending hours finding long-unheard gems. Keep returning to singers from my childhood- the Corries were always on Scottish TV- but this is the 1st song I'd forgotten I knew and loved. Early Christmas!

[@duckndoo6662]

What else did you find?

[@Kirstybeth]

try looking for Robin Hall and Jimmie McGregor = Scottish folk singers and Glesga street songs 1950s 1960s. Our Dad had their 33rpm EPs when we were young but no idea where gone since he died last year

[@mikepleet9220]

GOD BLESS

[@profgandoor2030]

Nice!

[@julistarling8382]

@morag mckay: This sort of thing is just so exactly what computers are for. ^___^ Rediscovering our much-beloved old treasures again. ^____^ I've been having much the same experience ever since I first discovered KZbin, now more than a dozen years ago. Happy hunting. 😊

[@harnessmadeofhopes]

Proud to be a Scotsman 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@matrix8930]

Same here.

[@KittyStarlight]

Reminds me also of my sailing uncle, steering his boat through the wind and weather, singing a sailing song but I cannot remember which one. He was in his element. 🌊 Literally. 🌊⛵⛲

[@strawberrymonmon5186]

The Corries soothe my soul. I grew up listening to their music, my wee granny listening to her albums most days. Nothing fills me with more happiness than hearing those voices, it's like a warm hug.

[@martinesuzanne1386]

Je suis française, je les ai découverts depuis peu et je ressens aussi cet apaisement et ce bonheur

[@Michajeru]

Fantastic song! Scottish music is simply wonderful and nobody plays and sings it better than the Corries. I play this tine on the recorder.

[@cjsb22lr]

it wasnt always!

[@patwell6853]

Truly amazing song and memories of my dad who adored them and had the voice of Roy as many of our old neighbours mentioned to the family at his passing. He used to sing with gusto back door open for all to hear. Miss those days but can still hear dad now belting the tunes out . GB

[@antanasmokus]

No other nation can make you feel invited to be "one of them" as Scotland does. Long live Caledonia!! (from Argentina)

[@julistarling8382]

"Caledonia you're calling me, now I'm going home" from someone who's always lived in America. But I fell in love with Scotland from books, movies, stories, songs, etc. Never been there. Some part of me wants to go home to there anyway. Good imagination. ^____^ That and, these songs and stories are just *very* evocative.

[@joannagodfrey5111]

don't count on that any more, things have changed greatly

[@TrueNativeScot]

@@joannagodfrey5111The ethnic cleansing of Scots by non-whites is the single worst thing to happen to Scots in history. We may go extinct this time if we don't fight back

[@tobiasoellers146]

Just Brillant. And Slow!! Back in the days when there was no „Stress“

[@ufgatorpaw]

Thank God for KZbin! Otherwise I would never have gotten to hear this beautiful music by the Corries! I had never heard of them before I stumbled upon them last night. I have never heard such lovely music. Incredible!

[@julistarling8382]

I first found them on KZbin too. I think it must have been not long after you did. 14 years ago maybe? Nice. ^___^

[@barrach7]

My Dad was a pal of Roy's. A real shame he went. A nice guy and tolerant. An independence minded Northern Scot His guitar's still in Forres Museum,. last time I looked.

[@doomfrom9077]

Free Scotland forever. Clan Gunn

[@janeyd5280]

My dad lived in Forres with an aunt. Don't know anything about her or address. But my dad loved this kind of music to relax to.xx

[@georgeriddell9356]

It doesn’t matter where your from or which language you speak this is a sea shanty for the world. Soar Alba🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@jamiecorrigan3241]

So Wish I Had Seen The Corries Perform LIVE, Must Have Been Some Experience.

[@johnbruce2868]

Reminds me of Red Point near Port Henderson overlooking the Minch. What a steely grey cold water in the winter. Nobody lives on beautiful Mingulay. Sadly, they've all either been cleared or move on. That's the story of Scotland.

[@celticlass32]

Thank you for sharing The Corries are so beautiful they sing with hearts so pure of a love so true for Scotland :)SCOTLAND FOREVER IN MY HEART AND SOUL..I LOVE YOU BONNIE SCOTLAND FOREVER AND ALWAYS ONE DAY I SHALL BE COMING TO YOU UP INTO HIGHLANDS AND THE LOCHS AND VALLEYS AND GLENS MY SOUL YEARNS FOR YOU XXX

[@woody816]

Did u ever make, I just stumbled on this comment and do realise it was 12year ago. As a proud highlander my curiosity got the better of me so much so that I decided to leave a comment and hopefully find out ✌🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥃🥃slainte

[@celticlass32]

@@woody816 Hello 👋 ☺ 🤗 I made in 2009 and 2017 and will be returning again! 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙Got 2 beautiful tats one with ALBA GU BRATH and two Thistles together and other HOPE OVER FEAR "CARPE DIEM" with 4 butterflies in Scottish colors 😋🙂💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙She is forever part of me and my wee heart and soul!!! Thank you 😊 Blessings always Claire 🌻💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙😋

[@teresawills1843]

You cannot beat the CORRIES for harmony in their singing R I P Roy

[@58262398]

There is only one thing better than a good Scottis song and that is two Scottish songs--- Danmac - Denmark

[@jancarmichael6733]

Takes me back have left scotland many years ago.used to see them regularly. Miss it terribly.so relaxing and beautiful sound.puts some of todays music to shame.

[@Deejaay83urj38]

Some?

[@1234Krueger]

Never heard more beautiful music! Scotland forever!

[@Deejaay83urj38]

Alba gu brath

[@kristinelawrie]

i can actually think of rowing a boat to this song stroke for stoke after stroke then another stroke stroke stroke stroke stroke stroke stroke to those brave scottish ancestors we have all got!!!!

[@julistarling8382]

Maybe that was the idea behind writing it. Something similar to the Volga Boat song only for the Scots. Why should Volga be the only one to have a boat song?

[@richardobeirne1182]

Tom W. Was a super folk singer who gave a great leg up to some of Ireland best known folk singers who were trying 2 make a break through in Britain

[@kristinelawrie]

I've loved the corries since they were introduced to me as a bairn in arms! I shall always remember them as the people who kept my traditional scottish music resl to me! x x x

[@BrianWMay]

I always smile when I hear this, as the island is uninhabited. Lovely version. I miss the Corries.

[@Deejaay83urj38]

Love it!

[@julistarling8382]

About the island being uninhabited: Perhaps the sailors are really the selkies. ^____^ Then again I thought I did read that the island had been abandoned long ago, so perhaps it is about the old days. ^___^ And/or someone wishing they could return. ^___^

[@julistarling8382]

Various weird possibilities might include: Ghosts. Selkies. Brigadoon. "The island that likes to be visited" in James Barrie's play Mary Rose. Or, perhaps someone was just playing with the idea of pretending to write a "traditional" folk song, but actually creating a new tradition. People do that sometimes.

[@cjsb22lr]

It wasnt always

[@fionacopeland7855]

It was inhabited until 1912

[@Climbertom79]

This is a great song. Anyone been to Mingulay? Just missed a climbing trip there earlier this year. No problem with Scottish Nationalism, the split will happen in time, no doubt about it and good luck to you. So long as I can keep coming over the border for your mountains I'm happy.

[@ericmesser1]

To the 25 thumbs down people..........you have no souls.........hope you find them soon......🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@mikelynch3792]

Eric Messer there none Celts 🇮🇪🇺🇸🍻

[@jimlyon7276]

@ Eric Messer - That'll be a damn long wait as sassenachs can never evolve to having a soul because they are so dysfunctional - sigh! - SAOR ALBA GU BRATH !

[@hartmutwrith3134]

@@mikelynch3792 i am no Celt. I am from the north of Germany. I love that song very much and have chosen it for my funeral.

[@julistarling8382]

I'm a sassenach and I love it. Well, all right, I'm an American but I do know that "sassenach" can mean Saxon but can also just mean "foreigner". My ancestry includes several bits and scraps of various different things including English, Scottish and Irish. And this is one of my favorite songs.

[@sabretooth1hamster]

I will always be grateful for my Jewish friend who enthusiastically turned me on to this group

[@dougallsdiscs]

FANTASTIC SCOTTISH FOLK MUSIC!!..........

[@vickystanley8853]

So gorgeous it hurts.. in a good way.

[@Deejaay83urj38]

Oh yes. The tears hurt

[@jimcartner819]

As I think back to my youth listening to these guys was a great influence in my musical journey on Highland pipes , uilleann pipes and whistles they were brilliant.

[@nakima61]

@@rosebrown9265 Was that a TV programme?

[@rosebrown9265]

​@@nakima61hope you are still listing to this great music

[@nakima61]

@@rosebrown9265 Of course!

[@lauraopper2571]

How could anyone not like this song?

[@Yakovlievich]

I love it, but Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor did it better.

[@ALBA-js3um]

+Yakovlievich fuck off bitch no they didn't

[@stuartsutherland6839]

Whats that stuff you have between your ears; sawdust.

[@ALBA-js3um]

Stuart Sutherland talk about idiots, haha. The Corries are the best by a mile. That person doesn't have a taste of music.

[@yodermang83]

I'm amazed by your musical taste and wisdom, perhaps your could instruct others as to what's good and/or bad music? Anxiously awaiting!

[@thetruemoai1]

This is the first song that I ever heard ❤

[@mariafarrugia-harrison4491]

such lovely harmony. i love the corries, roy was taken much too soon. true scottish gentlemen

[@Deejaay83urj38]

Yes indeed

[@claymohr3737]

One of my top 3 Scottish boat songs along with The Final Trawl (Tannies) and The Diamond ( Easy Club). Love it!

[@LaFlaneuse0]

best version imo. I always get a joyful and reminiscent feeling from The Corries.

[@steveelliott742]

Panagiotis Batistatos The Masterless Men from Newfoundland did a excellent remake of this song.

[@LaFlaneuse0]

@@steveelliott742 I did enjoy the listen. Thank you for the recommendation!

[@mjames7672]

Another beautiful rendition is by Storm Weather Shanty Choir - fucking fantastic they are

[@redravenrages6321]

This was the first song I ever watched of the Corries. I only found it because of the Longest Johns. I only found them because I looked up one of their songs (Bones in the Ocean) after I heard it on a meme video. The beauty of music and the journeys it can take you on is simply unbelievable. Music is the great ocean and we’re just here to ride with the waves, and if you let the waves take you, the beautiful places you shall find on your journey is truly something to savor. The Corries are now probably my favorite singers and performing group, and it’s to them I thank very much for making my ears, and my heart, truly happy in the past, present, and for the times to come, good or bad, happy or sad, for they especially are masters at getting you to feel the former rather than the ladder truly, and have truly pleased as well as helped so many because of their beautiful songs. To the Corries and to music itself, truly, Thank You. Long Live the Kings, and Long Live Serenity. Keep Going. Scotland Forever.

[@pissbulletskilgore522]

Pure. Just pure.

[@dannygillespie2066]

My mother died seven years ago my father eight before eight children they had , best memories we all have is all sitting in the living room listening to these legends

[@johnparke9210]

Having spent another year on holiday on barra. Me and ma bairn took a day trip on the boy james to mingulay and i must say it was like going back in time.She is a lovely wee island.

[@chrisbarker7115]

Fantastic musicians. Fantastic memories. R.I.P.Roy.

[@nakima61]

One of their best! Love it more every time I listen to it. Well done Roy and Ronnie!!

[@barbaramccormack4733]

I grew up tje all these songs and more it brings back memories

[@jimmclean7938]

Roy and Ronnie gave so much happiness to millions..twas just fantastic

[@daviemcf]

I miss the Corries.

[@grioghairmacgrioghair5311]

was brought up on this sort of music the corries, robin hall and jimmy macgregor absolutely superb stuff

[@MrMusicguyma]

Robin Hall and Jimmy MacGregor had a radio show broadcast in the USA in the late 60s/early 70s that I made a point to catch every week when I was a teen. ;)

[@rosebrown9265]

Brilliant minds

[@janekata1432]

Went to the U.K.years ago..always stuck with me.My Gramma was hearty Scotch-Irish stock.She was always hoping we'd go-even if she couldn't...Americans have alot to learn from other countries.Too bad America doesn't realize that....

[@maeveboyleston9143]

I love this song

[@shaylaperry2052]

I sing this all the time

[@nickflynn7839]

God rest Roy. What folk legends.

[@reggaemolasses]

Very nicely played and sung. Thank you. A beautiful song.

[@davidhill-vl1qw]

Love this song. Someone please tell me the lady in green top with pixie haircut is having a long and lovely life. 😊

[@davemacmurchie6982]

Yes, there's something magical about that image - absolutely perfect for the moment.

[@davemacmurchie6982]

In an earlier comment Andy Mathewson identifies her as Libby Purves en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libby_Purves

[@fairdinkum9454]

The Carries… what a gem 💕🙏🏻

[@heathercallaway6389]

Lovely song and beautifully performed by the Corries.

[@jwpipes47]

The Live from Scotland version is funny because Ronnie calls the audience out on not singing the word let because of how hard it was to hit the note.

[@paulsweeney2215]

Beautiful song - absolutely timeless and of course professionally performed by two great ambassadors for Scotland.

[@julistarling8382]

♥💓❤💖

[@julistarling8382]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

[@Snadd1987]

Absolutely awesome the corries be the best !!!!!!!!!

[@viviennepotter7105]

Beautiful song. Heard Alex Campbell sing it 50 odd years ago in numerous folk clubs. He really put heart and soul into it.

[@180523]

Ditto! She is remarkable! I wonder if she ever sees this today? Great song by a great duo, sorry they're not still performing!

[@sapien82]

the songs of our people , the corries a national treasure remind us of our past and hope for a better future

[@dayday_14]

Great song that brings people together ❤️❤️❤️

[@bestrickie2]

I'd like to say the Corries were such a wonderful duet & it's a shame about the loss of one of them but I can't remember which one though but VERY good at their talent, lovely voices & wonderful Scottish tunes. Cheers from Rich

[@julistarling8382]

Roy was the one who died of a brain tumor in 1990. 😥😔😟🙁😞

[@bestrickie2]

@@julistarling8382 oh that’s a pity though it’s been years since I’m almost certain.

[@mikeandroryinmich]

This is really great. I can still see my grandmother and my aunt dancing to this song by the Sons of Erin.

[@magbrown1]

This is beautiful. No One can take their place

[@Deejaay83urj38]

Never

[@iandickson1330]

❤athey were a brilliant pair of foke singers the best sad day when the lad died 😮❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😮😊😊😊😊

[@TheRealBoroNut]

This is a truly magic song. It was written in the 1930's yet was traditionally sung by fishermen returning home to the island they had abandoned in 1912. If that's not magic I don't know what is. Lovely job by the Corries though.

[@janeyd5280]

@Boro Nut. Would have been very emotional for them. X

[@julistarling8382]

Apparently it has more or less become a "traditional song". As evidenced by the several different variations in lyrics. Mostly just *slightly* different, but still, different. The Clancy Brothers: "Heave her head round into the weather." The Corries: "Swing her head round and all together." And so forth. ^____^

[@julistarling8382]

Verses are slightly different too. This one isn't exactly any of the versions I learned. Go to the Clancy Brothers' one for instance. Of course they were Irish though. 😉😜😘

[@alunepps4272]

All things are relative in time and space?

[@Teddyb1939]

One word [unusual for me] MAGICAL.

[@barrach7]

I used to fish off Mingulay and anchor there at night. Amazing looking island

[@andymathewson160]

A young Libby Purves, journalist and Radio 4 presenter, at 1:28.

[@teresawills1843]

You cannot beat the corri

[@killiekentman]

saw them sing this many moons ago . still as good today. Ray

[@collywobbles7514]

I love the look on her face at 1:25 that's a genuine smile of joy. Good looking girl as well :)

[@davemacmurchie6982]

Yes, that's a really marvellous image and really highlights the audience participation, which adds immensly to this particular version. One of the reasons I keep coming back to it.

[@mac9712]

i was in the Army , i listened to this song before a boxing match against an English guy,, i was so worked up after hearing this,, i almost ripped his head off!!! Cmon scotland !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@comenziyurta6631]

Googled the island of Mingulay, and found out it is uninhabited... just took the wind out of my sails: there can be no such people to sing this song sailing home to Mingulay

[@janetbrown2927]

The island was inhabited for 2000 years with the last people leaving in 1912.

[@annabellenonimous1302]

I have good news! Mingulay is the very last island sailors would pass when leaving, and the first island they would see coming home. They weren’t going to Mingulay specifically, but it’s the first of their homeland they’d see over the waves when they were getting close.

[@julistarling8382]

I like that. Thank you for that information, A. Nonimous. 😉 (I have figured out your name, you see. ^___^)

[@LindsayCurran]

Love this song! Many thanks for posting!

[@LeslieThomson-yu1ix]

Mingulay Boat Song Lyrics - as sung here (Chorus) Heel yo ho, boys, let her go, boys Swing her head round and all together Heel yo ho, boys, let her go, boys Sailing homeward to Mingulay What care we though white the minch is What care we for wind or weather Swing her head round, every inch is Sailing homeward to Mingulay Wives are waiting by the quayside They've been waiting since break of day-o Swing her head round, and we’ll anchor As the sun sets o’er Mingulay 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

[@MrRusshere]

always reminds me of new year parties in glasgow back in the day

[@pricemedlin5651]

This song is awesome

[@Deejaay83urj38]

The greatest folk band. The Carrie's. True gentleman

[@jonesthephones]

Priceless. Thanks

[@vanatlas1220]

True Bards are never forgotten.

[@barrach7]

Hi John. I very much doubt you're one of the last few who saw them!lol I saw them in Nairn as a boy in the early 80s and so did about 400 more folks (many around my age at the time :) Come on...it wasn't THAT long ago...!;) :)

[@105thecb]

Who,s that lovely girl at 1.26 in a lovely song, Corries well done

[@bikerbp]

a classic folk song sung well

[@bigcoolviking]

Robin hall and jimmy mcgreggor did a version of this song too its good.... I just googled it wow what a beautifull place.... rugged and forlorn, steeped in history!

[@dangalos]

Rees, your comments seem very heartfelt. Wonderful job of conveying the idea of pride, homeland, and history.

[@georgebrannan1759]

thank you, I adore this song as it evokes many personal memories.

[@jennifervavra483]

Such a beautiful song

[@mattsmalmberg7017]

The Best! Version! of Mingulay Boat Song! The Corries!

[@shuggy4105]

everyone looks so much healthier back then...

[@alfgilzean3362]

A Great version of this lovely lovely song. Nice one boys

[@AlreadyAUser]

The Masterless Men do a kick ass job with this song, if you're interested bys. Masterless Men - The Mingulay Boat Song

[@dorothywillis1]

Another favorite!