Tales from the Crow Man - 10. Selkie of Sules Skerry

Selkie of Sules Skerry 
(Traditional) 

An earthly nourris sits and sings 
And aye she sings `Ba lily wain 
Saying little ken I thy bairn's father 
Far less the land that he sleeps in' 

Then he arose at her bedfoot 
And a grumbly guest I'm sure was he 
Saying here am I, thy bairn's father 
Although I be 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 home it is in Sules Skerry 

And he has taken a purse of gold 
And he has lain it upon her knee 
Saying give to me my little young son 
And take thee up thy nurse's fee 

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

And you shall marry a pround gunner 
And a proud gunner I'm sure he'll be 
But the very first shot that e'er he shoots 
He'll kill both my young son and me.