The Skye Boat Song

Album: various (1875)
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  • 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

    Loud the winds howl loud the waves roar
    Thunderclaps rend the air
    Baffled our foes stand by the shore
    Follow they will not dare

    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 in 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

    Though the waves leap soft shall ye sleep
    Ocean's a royal bed
    Rock'd in the deep Flora will keep
    Watch o'er your weary head

    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
    Scattered the loyal men
    Yet ere 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 Lyrics from a song in Public Domain

Comments: 3

  • Matmann from CaliforniaSinging on the horse is too far out for me. Had to forget this version.
  • AnonymousLove this song made famous (for me) via Outlander series. F
  • Djeem from IndianaWikipedia states Boulton rewrote lyrics by Wm Ross. Hard to know the facts, haven't found those Ross lyrics yet. They'll be in Scottish Gaelic.
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