The Poxy Boggards are a Pasadena-based folk band, founded in 1994 at the So… Read Full Bio ↴The Poxy Boggards are a Pasadena-based folk band, founded in 1994 at the Southern CA Renaissance Pleasure Faire. Since this time, they have achieved success in the re-burgeoning of the Irish-folk movement, playing with bands such as the Fenians. Currently comprised of 14 members, all of them singers and most of them instrumentalists, the Poxy Boggards have a richly layered sound.

Mingulay Boat Song
The Poxy Boggards Lyrics

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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!

What care we how white the Minch is?
What care we for the wind and weather?
Let her go, boys, every inch is

Sailing homeward to Mingulay!

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!

Wives are waitin′ by the pier head
Or looking seaward (oh) from the heather.
Bring her head 'round, then you′ll anchor
Ere the sun sets on Mingulay!

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!

Sun comes low now by the yard, boys,
Right the clouds are to the westward.
Songs of home fly in the wind, boys,
Flyin' homeward to Mingulay!

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!

Ships return now, heavy-laden,
Mothers holdin' their bairns a-cryin′
We′ll return, though, ere the sun sets.
We'll return to Mingulay!

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!

Sailing homeward to Mingulay!

Overall Meaning

The Poxy Boggards' Mingulay Boat Song is a traditional Scottish song about returning home to the island of Mingulay. The lyrics express the sailors' eagerness to return home to their loved ones waiting for them, regardless of the weather conditions. The repetitive use of the phrase "Heel ya ho, boys! Let her go, boys!" conveys a sense of urgency and excitement as the sailors navigate their ship through the sea.

The lyrics also mention the sun setting on Mingulay, emphasizing the importance of returning home before nightfall. The final verse recognizes the challenges of returning home, with ships being heavy-laden and babies crying for their mothers, but the sailors remain determined to return to Mingulay.

Overall, the song celebrates the resilience and perseverance of sailors as they navigate the unpredictable sea to return home to their families on Mingulay.

Line by Line Meaning

Heel ya ho, boys! Let her go, boys!
Start moving the ship forward!

Bring her head round into the weather!
Turn the bow of the ship into the wind!

Sailing homeward to Mingulay!
Heading towards home in Mingulay!

What care we how white the Minch is?
We don’t care how rough the sea is!

What care we for the wind and weather?
We don’t care about the strong winds and harsh weather!

Let her go, boys, every inch is
Keep moving the ship forward, every inch counts!

Wives are waitin′ by the pier head
Our wives are waiting for us at the pier!

Or looking seaward (oh) from the heather.
They are looking towards the sea from the heather!

Bring her head 'round, then you′ll anchor
Turn the bow of the ship and then drop the anchor!

Ere the sun sets on Mingulay!
Before the sun sets in Mingulay!

Sun comes low now by the yard, boys,
The sun is going down, it’s getting dark!