There's more than one version to this song.. both seem to stir something up in me, and both go to the same tune...

SKYE BOAT SONG

Sir Harold Boulton, 1884

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,
Thunder clouds rend the air;
Baffled our foe's stand on the shore
Follow they will not dare
Speed bonnie boat...

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
Speed bonnie boat...

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...

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

and the slightly less violent...

OVER THE SEA TO SKYE (VARIANT)

Robert Louis Stevenson

Sing me a song of a lad that is gone
Say, could that lad be I?
Merry of soul, he sailed on a day
Over the sea to Skye

Mull was astern, Rum was on port
Eigg on the starboard bow
Glory of youth glowed in his soul
Where is that glory now?
Sing me a song...

Give me again all that was there
Give me the sun that shone
Give me the eyes, give me the soul
Give me the lad that's gone
Sing me a song...

Billow and breeze, islands and seas
Mountains of rain and sun
All that was good, all that was fair
All that was me is gone

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