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