The Great Silkie

[Verse 1]
There sits a maid on Norway's strand
"Hush bye-lou-lay," this maid began
Saying, "Little ken I my bairn's father
Far less the land that he dwells in"

[Verse 2]
For he came one night to her bed fit
And a grumbly guest I'm sure was he
Saying, "Here am I, thy bairn's father
Although I be not comely

[Verse 3]
I am a man upon dry land
I am a silkie in the sea
And when I'm far from every strand
My dwelling is Sule Skerry"

[Verse 4]
And he has taken a chain of gold
And he has placed it on her knee
Saying, "Give to me my little young son
And take thee up thy nursing fee

[Verse 5]
And you will marry a gunner good
And a right fine gunner I'm sure he'll be
And the very first shot that e'er he shoots
Will slay both my young son and me"

[Verse 6]
And she has married a gunner good
And a right good gunner was he
And he went out on a May morning
And he shot the son and the great silkie