Sit down. Sit down son. I want to ask you once again. This time will you come with me To Sula Sgier, across the sea. The men and I are leaving tonight. We slip the moorings at midnight. Vittled to last us two hard weeks. Steer in the night north by north east. Sixty miles on our true line Beneath the cliffs we'll anchor down 800 years we've taken from here Two thousand seabirds every year. Seared and plucked and salted and stacked, We sail two thousand gugas back, And the people all smile from the harbour wall For Gannet and potatoes on the table. Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Island folk a long time gone Sustained on seabirds on their own Year on year never left them short Boiled in the porridge a puffin they caught But life was hard then not like today With food from sunny lands far away But we'll tip our glass, we'll taste the sea And I'll ask you now like my father asked me. Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Listen, father, I'm employed By the power company from far abroad Up to the peat hags each day I go Where the great windtowers like trees they grow 'Cause the wind is fuel and the price is high, For the voltage harvest of the sky But my table is set and my bed is warm And my children will find their way back home. So father, father don't you see, We're just the same both you and me From the land and sea we take our share White wings on the slant atlantic air So when the wheat and barley's golden still But before the heather's here Call the men together again And sail for Sula Sgier. Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East Steer in the night North by North-East