Skye boat song

Settings by composers

• Philip Le Bas TTBB
• Caroline Lesemann-Elliott SATB
• arr. Adriano Secco SATB
• arr. Victor Wilburn BB

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Larry Minton — Skye Boat Song

Texts and Translations

English text

R.  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.

1  Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunder claps rend the air;
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare.
R.

2  Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed;
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head.
R.

3  Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield;
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden's field.
R.

4  Burned are our homes; exile and death
Scatter the loyal men;
Yet, e'er the sword cool in the sheath
Charlie will come again.
R.