The Great Silke

I am a man upon the land
I am a silkie in the sea
And when I'm far and free from land
My dwelling is the Sule Skerrie
An earthly maiden sits and sings
E’er she sings by lily wean
Little ken I my bairn’s father
By far less the land that he staps in
Then ane arose at her bed-feet
And a grumbly guest, I’m sure was he
Here I am, thy bairn’s father
Although I be not comely
This is not well, quoth the maiden fair
This is not well indeed, quoth she
That the Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie
Should come and aught a bairn with me
So he has ta’en a purse of gold
He has put it on her knee
Saying, give to me my little young son
And take thee up thy nurse breast’s fee
And it shall come to pass on a summer day
When the sun shines hot on every stone
I will take my little young son
And teach him for to swim the foam

And you shall marry a proud gunner
And a proud gunner I'm sure he’ll be
And the very first fish that e’er he shoots
He’ll shoot both my young son and me
I am a man upon the land
I am a silkie in the sea
When I'm far and free from land
My dwelling is in Sule Skerrie
Skerrie
Skerrie
Skerrie