The Skye Boat Song

"The Skye Boat Song" was a song about Bonnie Prince Charlie. (TV: Boom ^[+]Loading...["Boom (TV story)"])

The Second Doctor played the song on his recorder near the conclusion of the London Event. It was in part a diversion to prevent Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart from overhearing his discussion with Jamie McCrimmon on the Piccadilly Circus tube station platform. (TV: The Web of Fear ^[+]Loading...["The Web of Fear (TV story)"])

After possessing the Thirteenth Doctor and getting access to the Doctor's TARDIS many centuries later, the Spy Master procured various artefacts from previous incarnations of the Doctor, including the Second Doctor's recorder. After being stranded by Yasmin Khan, he produced the recorder from his clothes and proceeded to play this song. (TV: The Power of the Doctor ^[+]Loading...["The Power of the Doctor (TV story)"])

While trapped on a smart mine on Kastarion 3, the Fifteenth Doctor, standing on one foot, had Ruby Sunday hand him a weighted object so he could put his left foot on the ground without the mine noticing. Ruby asked him to sing a line of the "Skye Boat Song" when she handed over the object she found so their timing would be perfect. (TV: Boom ^[+]Loading...["Boom (TV story)"])

Known lyrics

Speed, bonny boat
Like a bird on a wing
Onward! The sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye

(TV: Boom ^[+]Loading...["Boom (TV story)"])

Behind the scenes

The song as played on bagpipes.

"The Skye Boat Song" is a nineteenth century Scottish folk song. It was first played by the Second Doctor in The Web of Fear, and the Spy Master in The Power of the Doctor. By the time the tune made a re-appearance in The Power of the Doctor, it had become known as the theme song from the television series Outlander.

External links

• BBC Radio 4 exploration of "The Skye Boat Song", available globally on demand