The Great Silkie

Lyrics

[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