Selkie of Sules Skerry

An earthly nourris sits and sings

And aye she sings `Ba lily wain

Saying little ken I thy bairn's father

Far less the land that he sleeps in'

Then he arose at her bedfoot

And a grumbly guest I'm sure was he

Saying here am I, thy bairn's father

Although I be not comely

I am a man upon the land

I am a selkie on the sea

And when I'm far and far from land

My home it is in Sules Skerry

And he has taken a purse of gold

And he has lain it upon her knee

Saying give to me my little young son

And take thee up thy nurse's fee

And it shall come tae pass on a summer's day

When the sun shines bright on every stone

I'll come to fetch my little young son

And teach him how to swim the foam

And you shall marry a pround gunner

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

But the very first shot that e'er he shoots

He'll kill both my young son and me.