An earthly nurse sits and sings And aye she sings of lily-wean Saying "Little ken I my bairn's father Far less the land that he comes from" So he came one night to her bed feet And a grumbly guest I'm sure was he Saying "Here am I thy bairn's father Although I be not comely" And he had taken a purse of gold And he had placed it on her knee Saying "Give to me my little young son And take thee up thy nurse's fee For I am a man upon the land And I am a Silkie on the sea And when I'm far and far from land My home it is in Sule Skerry For it shall come to pass on a summer's day When the sun shines bright on every stone I'll come and fetch my little young son And teach him how to swim the foam 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 For I am a man upon the land And I am a Silkie on the sea And when I'm far and far from land My home it is in Sule Skerry"