The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry

An earthly nurse she sits and sings
And aye she sings, “Ba lily wein
Little I know my bairn's father
Far less the land that he lives in.”

Then one arose at her bed foot
And a grumly guest I'm sure was he
Saying, “Here am I the babe's father
Although I be not comely

“I am a man upon the land
I am a Silkie in the sea
And when I'm far and far from here
My home it is in Sule Skerry.”

It was na weel quothe the maiden fair
It was na weel indeed quothe he
That the great Silkie of Sule Skerry
Should have come and got a bairn to me

Now he's taken out a purse of gold
And he's laid it down upon her knee
Saying, “Give to me my little wee son
And you pick up your nurses fee

“It shall come to pass on a bright summer's morn
When the sun shines bright on every stone
I will come and take my wee son
And I'll teach him how to swim the foam

“And you shall marry a proud gunner
And a very fine gunner I'm sure he'll be
But the very first shot that e'er he fires
Will kill both my young son and me.”