In the late hours of a sunset rendezvous --- 

chill breeze against tide, that carries me from you. 

Got a job in a southern city --- got some lead-free in my tank. 

Now I must whisper goodbye --- I'm bound for the mainland. 

  

Island in the city, Cut by a cold sea. 

People moving on an ocean. Groundswell of humanity. 

  

Now the sum breaks through rain as I climb Glen Shiel 

on the trail of those old cattlemen who drove their bargain south again. 

And in the eyes of those five sisters of Kintail 

there's a wink of seduction from the mainland. 

  

Island in the city. Cut by a cold sea. 

People moving on an ocean. Groundswell of humanity. 

Storm-lashed on the high-rise --- their words are spray to the wind. 

Blown like silent laughter. Falling on ears of tin. 

  

Take my heart and take my brawn. 

Take by stealth or take by storm --- 

set my brain to cruise. 

I can see the glow of the suburb lights. 

I'm fresh from the out-world --- 

singing the mainland blues. 

  

There was a girl where I came from. 

Seems a long time, long time gone by. 

Wears the west wind in her hair. 

She calls from the hill --- yeah, she calls 

in my mainland blues. 

  

There's a coast road that winds to heaven's door 

where a fat ferry floats on muted diesel roar. 

And there's a light on the hillside --- and there's a flame in her 

eyes, but how cold the lights burn on the mainland. 

  

Island in the city. Cut by a cold sea. 

People moving on an ocean. Groundswell of humanity. 

Storm-lashed on the high-rise --- their words are spray to the wind. 

Blown like silent laughter. Falling on ears of tin 

in my mainland blues.