Lyrics - Skye Boat Song by Celtic Folk
The
Skye
Boat
Song 14
Chorus:
D
A
D
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing,
G
D
Onward, the sailors cry.
A
D
Carry the lad that's born to be king
G
D over the sea to
Skye.
D
Em
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
G
Em
Thunderclaps rend the air,
D
Em
Baffled our foes stand by the shore,
G
Em
AFollow they will not dare.
Cho.
D
Em
Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,
G
Em
Ocean's a royal bed.
D
Em
Rock'd in the deep
Flora will keep
G
Em
AWatch o'er your weary head.
Cho.
D
Em
Burnt are our homes, exile and death,
G
Em
Scattered the loyal man.
D
Em
Yet ere the sword, cool in the sheath,
G
Em
ACharlie will come again.
Cho.......................................................................
This song commemorates the escape of
Bonnie
Prince
Charlie from theseshores when
Flora
Mac
Donald took him, disguised as a serving maid,from
Uist to
Skye in a small boat.
Flora later emigrated to the
Carolinas in the
US, but isnow buried at
Kilmuir on the northcoast of
Skye.
Prince
Charlie is buried near
Rome where he was born.
The tune has its origins in a
Gaelic sea shanty........................................................................
Return to songs by Celtic Folk.
