[Verso]
An earthly nurse sits and sings
And aye she sings a lily wean
And the little ken eye my bairn's father
Far less the land that he dwells in
[Verso]
For he came one night to her bed’s foot
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 silkie in the sea
And when I'm far and far from land
My home it is in sule skerrie
[Verso]
And he has ta'en a purse of gold
And he had placed it upon her knee
Saying, "Give to me my little young son
And take thee up thy nurse's fee”
[Verso]
And it shall come to pass on a summer's day
When the sun shine's bright on every stane
I'll come and fetch my little young son
And I’ll teach him how to swim the faem
[Verso]
And ye shall marry a gunner good
And a right fine gunner I'm sure he'll be
And the very first shot that ever he shoots
Will kill both my young son and me
