An earthly nourris sits and sings,

And aye she sings, "Ba lilly wean,

Little ken I my bairn's father,

Far less the land that he staps in."

Then ane arose at her bed fit,

And a grumly guest I'm sure was he,

Saying "Here am I, thy bairn's father,

Although I am not comely."

I am a man upon the land,

I am a silkie in the sea,

And when I'm far frae every strand,

My home it is in Sule Skerry."

"It was na weel", the maiden cried,

"It was na weel, indeed" quo she,

"For the Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie,

To hae come and aught a bairn to me!"

Then he has taken a purse of gold,

And he has laid it on her knee,

Saying, "give to me, my little young son,

And take thee up thy nouriss fee.

It shall come to pass on a summer's day,

When the sun shines hot on every stone,

That I shall take my little young son,

And teach him for to swim the foam.

And thou shalt marry a proud gunner,

And a very proud gunner I'm sure he'll be,

And the very first shot that e're he shoots,

he'll kill both my young son and me."