The Great Silkie (1965)
(Arr. B Smith)
Available on GP - The Early Years

I am a man upon the land 
I am a silkie in the sea 
And when I’m far and free from land 
My dwelling is the Sule Skerrie 

An earthly maiden sits and sings 
E‘er she sings by lily wean 
Little ken I my bairn’s father 
By far less the land that he steps in 

Then on a rose at her bed feet
And a grumbly guest, I’m sure was he 
Here I am, thy bairn’s father 
Although I be not comely

This is not well, quoth the maiden fair
This is not well indeed, quoth she
That the Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie
Should come and aught a bairn with me

So he has ta’en a purse of gold 
He has put it on her knee 
Saying, give to me my little young son 
And take thee up thy nurse breast’s fee 

And it shall come to pass on a summer day
When the sun shines hot on every stone
I will take my little young son 
And teach him for to swim the foam

And you shall marry a proud gunner 
And a proud gunner I’m sure he’ll be 
And the very first fish that e’er he shoots 
He’ll shoot both my young son and me

I am a man upon the land 
I am a silkie in the sea 
When I’m far and free from land 
My dwelling is in Sule Skerrie
Skerrie
Skerrie
Skerrie