An earthly nourris sits and sings And aye she sings, 'Ba lilly wean Little ken I, my bairns father Far less the land that he staps in.'
Then ane arose at her bed fit And a grumly guest I'm sure was he Saying 'Here am I, thy bairns father Although I am 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 home it is in Sule Skerry.'
€œIt was na weelâ€, the maiden cried €œIt was na weel, indeed†quo she €œFor the Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie To hae come and aught a bairn to me!â€
Then he has taken a purse of gold And he has laid it on her knee Saying, 'give to me, my little young son And take thee up thy nouriss fee
It shall come to pass on a summer's day When the sun shines hot on every stone That I shall take my little young son And teach him for to swim the foam
And thou shalt marry a proud gunner And a very proud gunner I'm sure he'll be And the very first shot that e're he shoots He'll kill both my young son and me.'