The Great Silkie

In Noroway there lived a maid
“Bye-loo my baby,” she begins
“Oh know not I my babe's father
Or if land or sea he's living in.”

Then there arose at her bedfeet
And a grummlie guest I'm sure was he
Saying, “Here am I thy babe's father
Although I be not comely

“I am a man upon the land
I am a silkie in the sea
But when I'm in my own coutrie
My dwelling is in Sule Skerry.”

Then he has taken a purse of gold
And he has put it upon her knee
Saying, “Give to mе my little wee son
And take thee up thy nurse's fee

“And it shall pass on a summеr's day
When the sun shines hot on every stone
That I shall take my little wee son
And teach him for to swim in the foam

“And you shall marry a gunner good
And a proud good gunner I'm sure he'll be
And he'll go out on a May morning
And kill both my young son and me.”

And she did marry a gunner good
And a proud good gunner I'm sure 'twas he
And the very first shot he ever did shoot
He killed the son and the great silkie

In Noroway there lived a maid
“Bye-loo my baby,” she begins
“Oh know not I my babe's father
Or if land or sea he's living in.”

“I am a man upon the land
I am a silkie in the sea
And when I'm in my own coutrie
My dwelling is in Sule Skerry.”