The Great Silkie

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Melody -
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An earthly norris sits and sings
And aye she sings ba lilly wean
Little ken I my bairn's father
Far less the land where he sleeps in

2. Then up stepped he to her bedside
And a grumly guest I'm sure is he
Saying here I am your bairn's father
Although I be not comely

3. 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 is in the Skule Skerry

4. It wasna' well quoth the maiden fair
It wasna' well indeed quoth she
That the Great Silkie of Skule Skerry
Should have come and brought a bairn to me

5. Then he has taken a purse of gold
And he has put it on her knee
Saying give to me my fine young son
And take thee thy nursing fee

6. It shall come to pass on a summer's day
When the sun shines hot on every stone
That I shall take my fine young son
And teach him for to swim the foam

7. And you shall marry a gunner proud
A right fine gunner I'm sure he'll be
And the very first shot that day he'll shoot
He'll kill both my young son and me

8. Alas, alas the maiden cried
This weary fate's been laid for thee
And then she said and then she cried
I'll bury me in the Skule Skerry

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