Silkie - Joan Baez

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

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

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»

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

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