Methinks the School of Scottish studies has it originally in Gaelic as a Trad (anon) and translated into a semi-understandable language such as English. The Minch or Minge argument could conceivably have something to do with the fact that the boats mentioned in the song were made of wood, which had to be imported, much of which was southern european meach or mingewood, so called owing to its strange smell. The close proximity to decaying seaweed and rotting fish might also explain a lot. 'Nuff said.
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