Selkie

An earthly nooress sits and sings
And aye she sings "ba lillie wee"
Little ken I thy bairnie's faither
Far less the land that he lies in
Then in arose at her bed-fet
And a grumly guest I'm sure was he
Saying "here am I, thy bairnie's faither
Although I am not comely"

"I am a man upon the land
I am a selkie on the sea
And when I'm far and far from land
My hame it is in Sulskerry"

"And it shall come to pass on a summer's day
When the sun shines bright on every stone
I'll come and take my little young son
And teach him how to swim the foam"

"I am a man upon the land
I am a selkie on the sea
And when I'm far and far from land
My hame it is in Sulskerry"

Then he has ta'en a purse of gold
And he has laid it on her knee
Saying "give to me my little young son
And tak' thee of thy nooress free"
"And thou shall marry a gunner good
And a right good gunner I'm sure he'll be
And the very first shot that e'er he shoot
He'll kill baith my young son and me"

"I am a man upon the land
I am a selkie on the sea
And when I'm far and far from land
My hame it is in Sulskerry"