An earthly nourris sits and sings
And aye she sings, Ba lily wean!
Sailing took I of my bairn's father,
Far less the land that he sleeps in.
Then he steps to her bedside,
A grumbly guest I'm sure was he,
Saying, Here I am, your bairn's father,
Though I may not calmly be.
For I am a man upon the land,
I am a silkie in the sea,
And when I am far, far frae this stand,
My dwelling is in Sule Skerry.
Then he has taken his purse of gold,
He has placed it upon her knee,
Saying, Give to me my wee young son,
And kindly take thy nourris fee.
and it shall come to pass, on a summer's day,
The sun shines bright on every stone,
It's then I will take my wee young son
And teach him how to swim in the foam.
For I am a man upon the land
I am a silkie in the sea
And when I am far, far frae this stand
My dwelling is in Sule Skerry
And ye shall marry a proud gunner
A proud gunner I'm sure he'll be
And the very first shot that e'er he takes
Will kill both your we son and me.
Alas, Alas, the young maiden did cried
This weary fate's been laid on me
And then she said and then she said
I'll drown myself in Sule Skerry.
For you are a man upon the land
You are a silkie in the sea
And when you are far, far frae this stand
My dwelling is in Sule Skerry
For I am man upon the land
I am a silkie in the sea
And when I am far, far frae this stand
My dwelling is in Sule Skerry
Ba de duh de ba de duh de ba duh de da de duh