In 1968, the predecessor of the Juno’s named The Irish Rovers Canada’s, “Folk Group of the Year”, and the following year, they received a Grammy nomination for “Folk Performance of the Year”.
As hosts of three national television series in Canada and Ireland, through the 1970's and 80s, The Irish Rovers increased the popularity of Irish music by way of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, personally asked the band if they could “please become Canadian” so that they could officially represent Canada throughout the world. Since then, they have represented Canada at no less than five world Expos, and in recognition for a quarter century of contributions to the International music world, The Irish Rovers won the Performing Rights Organization's (PROCAN) 'Harold Moon Award'.
Although all members of the band hail from Ireland, a number of their biggest hits were often "non-Irish". Their own rousing, traditional Irish compositions, however, do comprise the bulk of their music.
By the 90’s, their songwriting was even more prolific than their early years, and production of albums wasn’t about to slow down. Since they desired the freedom that as a younger band, they could not afford, in ’93 The Irish Rovers established their own record company, Rover Records. Their songs tell the story of the Irish, whether it’s a lost love, a sailor on leave, or the simple good taste of a Guinness. Rover Records has put out their last eleven albums, including Celtic Collection, Come Fill Up Your Glasses, Down by the Lagan Side, Another Round, Still Rovin', a Christmas album, and their greatest hits, 40 Years A-Rovin'.
Founding member George Millar is from Ballymena, original member Wilcil McDowell is from Larne, John Reynolds from Belfast, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Ian Millar from Ballymena, and percussionist Fred Graham is also from Belfast.
Former members include founding member Jimmy Ferguson who passed away in 1997 and Joe Millar.
Mingulay Boat Song
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Loud the winds howl loud the waves roar
Thunderclaps rend the air
Baffled our foes stand on the shore
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
Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield
When the night came silently lay
Dead on Culloden's field
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
Billow and breeze islands and seas
Mountains of rain and sun
All that was good all that was fair
All that was ours is gone
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
Burned are our homes exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet e'er the sword cool in the sheath
Charlie will come again
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
The lyrics to The Irish Rovers’ “Mingulay Boat Song” paints a somber yet resilient portrait of Scotland’s history. The song urges a “Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing” to carry the lad that’s born to be king over the sea to Skye. The line is a reference to the Scottish Jacobite rising of 1745 when Prince Charles Edward Stuart (the young pretender) fled Scotland to Skye. The song mentions the battle of Culloden where the Scots lost to the English – “Many's the lad fought on that day, well the claymore could wield, when the night came silently lay, dead on Culloden's field”. The lyrics suggest that the Scottish people have suffered defeat, and their homes have been burned, and their lives lost in exile, but even in despair, they remain loyal to their cause. The song ends on a hopeful note, “Charlie will come again,” suggesting that the Scottish people will rise again.
The “Mingulay Boat Song” is a traditional Scottish song, written in the Gaelic language. The song originates from the small island of Mingulay in Scotland, off the coast of Barra. It was sung by the islanders when they were hauling their boats up from the shore to their homes. The song was later adopted by the Scottish Army as a marching song, and it has since become a favorite folk song.
Line by Line Meaning
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
The boat is moving swiftly like a bird flying with ease
Onward the sailors cry
The sailors urge the boat to move forward
Carry the lad that's born to be king
The boat carries a young man destined to become a king
Over the sea to Skye
The journey is taking them across the sea to the Isle of Skye
Loud the winds howl loud the waves roar
The weather is intense, with strong winds and high waves
Thunderclaps rend the air
Thunder is heard, splitting the air apart
Baffled our foes stand on the shore
Their opponents are confused and unable to figure out what to do
Follow they will not dare
The opponents are too afraid to follow them
Many's the lad fought on that day
Many fought on that fateful day
Well the claymore could wield
They used their swords skillfully
When the night came silently lay
By the time night fell, they were all dead and silent
Dead on Culloden's field
They met their end on the battlefield of Culloden
Billow and breeze islands and seas
The boat sails through rough waves and strong winds, past various islands and seas
Mountains of rain and sun
They encountered unpredictable weather, with heavy rain and bright sun in the mountains
All that was good all that was fair
Everything that they cherished and valued has been lost
All that was ours is gone
They have lost everything they once owned
Burned are our homes exile and death
Their homes have been burned, and they are now exiled, facing death
Scatter the loyal men
Loyal men are forced to flee and scatter
Yet e'er the sword cool in the sheath
The sword will not rest, as they wait for their leader, Charlie, to return and continue the fight
Charlie will come again
They believe their leader, Charlie, will return to lead them into battle once more
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Traditional, Van Morrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.