Silkie

[Verse 1] An earthly nurse sits and sings And aye she sings a lily wean And the little ken I my bairn's father Far less the land that he dwells in [Verse 2] For he came one night to her bed feet And a grumly guest I'm sure was he Saying, “Here am I, thy bairn's father Although I be not comely” [Verse 3] I am a man upon the land I am a silkie in the sea And when I'm far and far from land My home it is in sule skerrie [Verse 4] And he has ta'en a purse of gold And he had placed it upon her knee Saying, "Give to me my little young son And take thee up thy nurse's fee” [Verse 5] And it shall come to pass on a summer's day When the sun shines bright on every stane I'll come and fetch my little young son And I’ll teach him how to swim the faem [Verse 6] And ye shall marry a gunner good And a right fine gunner I'm sure he'll be And the very first shot that ever he shoots Will kill both my young son and me