An earthly nurse sits and singsAnd aye she sings of lily-weanSaying "Little ken I my bairn's fatherFar less the land that he comes from"So he came one night to her bed feetAnd a grumbly guest I'm sure was heSaying "Here am I thy bairn's fatherAlthough I be not comely"And he had taken a purse of goldAnd he had placed it on her kneeSaying "Give to me my little young sonAnd take thee up thy nurse's feeFor I am a man upon the landAnd I am a Silkie on the seaAnd when I'm far and far from landMy home it is in Sule SkerryFor it shall come to pass on a summer's dayWhen the sun shines bright on every stoneI'll come and fetch my little young sonAnd teach him how to swim the foamAnd ye shall marry a gunner goodAnd a right fine gunner I'm sure he'll beAnd the very first shot that ever he shootsWill kill both my young son and meFor I am a man upon the landAnd I am a Silkie on the seaAnd when I'm far and far from landMy home it is in Sule Skerry"