The Great Silkie

An earthly nurse sits and sings

And aye she sings of lily-wean

Saying "Little ken I my bairn's father

Far less the land that he comes from"

So he came one night to her bed feet

And a grumbly guest I'm sure was he

Saying "Here am I thy bairn's father

Although I be not comely"

And he had taken a purse of gold

And he had placed it on her knee

Saying "Give to me my little young son

And take thee up thy nurse's fee

For I am a man upon the land

And I am a Silkie on the sea

And when I'm far and far from land

My home it is in Sule Skerry

For it shall come to pass on a summer's day

When the sun shines bright on every stone

I'll come and fetch my little young son

And teach him how to swim the foam

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

For I am a man upon the land

And I am a Silkie on the sea

And when I'm far and far from land

My home it is in Sule Skerry"