The Skye Boat Song

Album: various (1875)
Play Video
  • 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.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.