The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #25236 Message #294789
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
10-Sep-00 - 09:00 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Heave Ya Ho (Battlefield Band)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battlefield Band 'HEAVE YA HO.'
The Mingulay Boat Song was never a Gaelic song. It was written, in English, by Hugh S. Roberton, (d. 1952) -founder of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir- and set to a traditional tune; he wanted it to sound like a sea shanty, and chose "Mingulay" because it he thought it sounded romantic. There is some discussion on an earlier thread, here: Mingulay Boat Song's Minch?