The Great Selkie

In Norway there dwelt a maid,

"By'loo my baby," she begins,

Saying "Little know I my baby's father,

Or if land or see he's living in."

Then there arose at her bed's foot

A grumley ghaist, I'm sure was he,

Saying "Here am I, thy baby's father,

Although that I'm not comely."

"I am a man upon the land

And I am a selkie in the sea.

And when I am in my own country

My dwelling is Shule Skerry."

Then he's taken out a purse of gold

And he has put it upon her knee,

Saying "Give to me my little wee son,

And take thee up thy nurse's fee."

And it shall come to pass on a summer's day,

When the sun shines bright on every stone,

That I shall take out my little wee son

And teach him for to swim in the foam."

"And you shall marry a gunner good,

And a proud young gunner I'm sure he'll be,

And he'll go out on a fine May morning

And kill both my young son and me."

And lo, she did marry a gunner good,

And a fine young gunner I'm sure was he,

And ther very first shot that he did shoot

It killed both the son and the Great Selkie

In Norway there dwelt a maid,

"By'loo my baby," she begins,

Saying "Little know I my baby's father,

Or if land or sea he's living in."