The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry
Traditional Melody attributed to James Waters
Arranged by Mairéid Sullivan and Ben Kettlewell

An earthly nouris sits and sings
and "aye" she sings ba lily we'n
"O little ken I my bairn's father,
still less the land where he dwells in"

Then one arose at her bed feet
and a grumly guest I'm sure was he
Saying "Here am I, thy bairn'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 frae every strand
my dwelling is in Sule Skerry"

"It was na weel" quo' the maiden, fair
"It was na weel indeed" quo' she
"That the Great Silkie of Sule Skerry
should come and aught a bairn to me"

Now he has taken a purse of gold
and he has put it upon her knee
Saying "G'e to me my little young son,
and take thee up thy nouris fee"

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

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