The song was composed by Martin and Andy around a fragment sung by Andy's grandfather, who was born in Glen Isla in 1900. It tells of a crofter whose life was made difficult by the fact that his local 'ale hoose' was across the river from his croft, but miles from the nearest bridge. Crossing to the inn on stepping-stones was easy enough in daylight when sober, but returning after a night of song and powerful whisky was an entirely different matter.