Mingalay Boat Song

Heel ya ho boys, let her go boys,

Bring her head round into the weather

~1st Chorus~

Heel ya ho boys, let her go boys,

Sailing homeward to Mingulay

What care we, how white the minch is

What care we, for wind & weather

Bring her round boys for every inch is

Wearing homeward to Mingulay

~2nd Chorus~

Heel ya ho boys, let her go boys,

Bring her head round into the weather

Heel ya ho boys, let her go boys,

Sailing homeward to Mingulay

 Far behind us, the hills of Quinlan

Soon before us the hills of heather

And you know boys, the candles glow boys

In the windows of Mingulay

 ~2nd Chorus~

Wives are waiting on the bank

Or looking seaward from the heather

Bring her round boys and then we’ll anchor

Ere the sun sets on Mingulay

 ~2nd Chorus~

Ships return now, heavy laden

Mothers holdin’ babes a cryin’

They’ll return though, when the sun sets

They’ll return to Mingulay

~2nd Chorus~

Wild Rover

I’ve been a wild rover for many a year,

And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer,

And now I’m returning with gold in great store

And I never will play the wild rover no more.

~Chorus~

And it’s no, nay, never,

No nay never no more,

Will I play the wild rover

No never no more.

I went to an ale-house I used to frequent

And I told the landlady my money was spent.

I asked her for credit, she answered me “nay

Such a custom as yours I could have any day.”

~Chorus~

I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright

And the landlady’s eyes opened wide with delight.

She said “I have whiskey and wines of the best

And the words that I spoke sure were only in jest.”

~Chorus~

I’ll go home to my parents, confess what I’ve done

And I’ll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.

And if they caress (forgive) me as ofttimes before

Sure I never will play the wild rover no more.

~Chorus~

Rolling Down to Old Maui

It’s a damn tough life, full of toil & strife,

we whaler-men undergo,

And we won’t give a damn when the gales are done,

how hard the winds did blow,

For we’re homeward bound from the Arctic grounds,

with a good ship taut & free,

And we won’t give a damn when we drink our rum,

with the girls from old Maui.

~CHORUS~

Rolling down to old Maui, me boys,

rolling down to old Maui,

We’re homeward bound from the Arctic grounds,

rolling down to old Maui

Once more we sail with the northerly gale,

through the ice & wind & rain,

Them coconut fronds, them tropical lands,

we soon shall see again,

Six hellish months we’ve passed away,

on the cold Kamchatka sea,

But now we’re bound from the Arctic grounds,

rolling down to old Maui.

~CHORUS~

Once more we sail with the Northerly gales,

towards our island home,

Our whaling done, our mainmast sprung,

and we ain’t got far to go,

Our stuns’l's bones is carried away,

what care we for that sound,

A living gale is after us,

thank God we’re homeward bound.

~CHORUS ~

How soft the breeze through the island trees,

now the ice is far astern,

Them native maids, them tropical glades,

is awaiting our return,

Even now their big brown eyes look out,

hoping some fine day to see,

Our baggy sails, running ‘fore the gales,

rolling down to old Maui.

~CHORUS~ x2~

All for Me Grog

Well it’s all for me grog, me jolly jolly grog It’s all for me beer and tobacco For I spent all me tin with the lassies drinking gin Far across the western ocean I must wander

Where are me boots, me noggin’, noggin’ boots? They’re all gone for beer and tobacco For the heels they are worn out and the toes are kicked about And the soles are looking out for better weather

Where is me shirt, my noggin’, noggin’ shirt? It’s all gone for beer and tobacco For the collar is all worn, and the sleeves they are all torn And the tail is looking out for better weather

I’m sick in the head and I haven’t been to bed Since first I came ashore with me slumber For I spent all me dough on the lassies movin’ slow Far across the Western Ocean I must wander

Where is me bed, me noggin’ noggin bed It’s all gone for beer and tobacco Well I lent it to a whore and now the sheets are all tore And the springs are looking out for better whether.

Where is me wench, me noggin’ noggin’ whence She’s all gone for beer and tobacco Well her  (clap) is all worn out and her (clap) is knocked about And her (clap) is looking out for better whether.

One More Day Johnny

Have you heard the news, my Johnny One more day! We’re homeward bound tomorrow Only one more day!

2. Don’t you hear the old man growlin’ One more day! Don’t you hear the mate a howlin’ Only one more day!

3. Don’t you hear the old man callin’ One more day! Don’t you hear the pilot bawlin’ Only one more day!

4. Only one more day a-howlin’ One more day! Can’t you hear the gals a-callin’ Only one more day!

5. Only one more day a-rollin’ One more day! Can’t you hear the gulls a-callin’ Only one more day!

6. Only one more day a-furlin’ One more day! Only one more day a-cursin’ Only one more day!

  7. Heave and sight the anchor, Johnny One more day! For we’re close ‘board the port, Johnny Only one more day!

8. Put on your long-tail blue, Johnny One more day! For your payday’s nearly due. Only one more day!

9. We’re homeward bound today, Johnny One more day! We’ll leave her without sorrow, Johnny Only one more day!

10. Pack your bags today, my Johnny One more day! O, an’ leave her where she lies, Johnny Only one more day!

11. No more gales or heavy weather One more day! Only one more day together Only one more day!

12. Only one more day, my Johnny, One more day! O, rock and roll me over. Only one more day!

 Rolling Home

Rolling home, sun`s around my shoulders

Rolling home, I feel it getting colder

In my eye the birds cry, cry into the land

While beneath my feet the ship flies, fly into the sand

Rolling home, rolling home

Thoughts returning, thoughts of what I told her

Thoughts returning, thoughts as I get older

In my mind I hear her crying, crying in the wind

In my mind I hear her crying, her tears they wheel and spin

Rolling home, I`m rolling home

Golden dawns are shining all around me

Golden dawns that really think they`ve found me

And I know I will be happy in laughter behind the song

And I know I will be happy when she and I are one