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