The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry

An earthly nourris sits and sings
And aye she sings, "Ba lilly wean
Little ken I, my bairns father
Far less the land that he staps in."

Then ane arose at her bed fit
And a grumly guest I'm sure was he
Saying "Here am I, thy bairns father
Although I am not comely."

I am a man upon the land
I am a silkie in the sea
And when I'm far frae every strand
My home it is in Sule Skerry."

€œIt was na weel”, the maiden cried
€œIt was na weel, indeed” quo she
€œFor the Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie
To hae come and aught a bairn to me!”

Then he has taken a purse of gold
And he has laid it on her knee
Saying, "give to me, my little young son
And take thee up thy nouriss fee

It shall come to pass on a summer's day
When the sun shines hot on every stone
That I shall take my little young son
And teach him for to swim the foam

And thou shalt marry a proud gunner
And a very proud gunner I'm sure he'll be
And the very first shot that e're he shoots
He'll kill both my young son and me."