What care we how white the minch is

What care we for the wind and weather

For we know that every inch is

Sailing closer to Mingulay

Wives are waiting at the pierhead

Looking seaward into the weather

Heave her ‘round, boys, and we’ll anchor

E’er the sun sets on Mingulay

Far beyond the straits of Coolie,

We can see our own land of heather,

And you know, boys, candles glow, boys

Lighting the windows of Mingulay

Ships return now, heavy laden

Mothers holdin’ their bairns a-cryin’

We’ll return though, when the sun sets,

We’ll return then to Mingulay