Henry's Songbook

See the morning light
Hear the puffins calling
End another night
Off the Isle of May

Bright Eastern skies
Hear the puffins calling
White cliffs arise
Off the Isle of May

See the long lines flowing
Hear the puffins calling
Deep in Forth they're going
Off the Isle of May

Run the nets once more
Hear the puffins calling
Off the cold Fife shore
Off the Isle of May

As the day's light fades
Hear the puffins calling
Small money's made
Off the Isle of May

No more herring swim
Hear the puffins calling
Hard times are come
Off the Isle of May

For the bright herring's gone
Hear the puffins calling
And inshore life is done
Off the Isle of May

(as sung by Cilla Fisher)

[1983: ] The Isle of May was where all the boats used to gather before they came in to the harbours of the east of Scotland - Anstruther and Crail and Elie. But unfortunately the fishing industry has gone down, and now the only things that catch fish off the Isle of May are the sea-birds, the puffins. (Intro Artie Trezise T 12)