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 new day break
Hear the puffins calling
Fisherman awake
Off the Isle of May

Small boats fall and rise
Hear the puffins calling
To the fishers' cries
Off the Isle of May

See the dories coming
Hear the puffins calling
Pray for herring running
Off the Isle of May

In the day's bright sun
Hear the puffins calling
See the net-lines run
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

See the net-lines hauled in
Hear the puffins calling
Light loads are trawling
Off the Isle of May

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

Turn again to Fife
Hear the puffins calling
That's the inshore life
Off the Isle of May

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

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

The bright herring's gone
Hear the puffins calling
Inshore life is done
Off the Isle of May