An earthly nurse sits and sings
And aye she sings a lily wean
Little ken I my bairn's father
Far less the land
that he dwells in
For he's come one night
to her bed's foot
And a grumly guest
I'm sure he'd be
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
and far from land
My home it is the sule skerrie
And he has ta'en a purse of gold
And he had placed
it upon her knee
Saying, Give to me
my little young son
And take thee up
thy nurse's fee
And I will come one summer's day
When the sun shine's bright
on every stane
I'll come
and fetch my little young son
And teach him
how to swim the faem
And ye shall marry a gunner bold
And a right fine gunner
I'm sure he'll be
And the very first shot
that ever he shoots
Will kill
both my young son and me