An earthly nourris sits and sings And aye she sings 'Ba lily wain And little ken I my bairn's father Far less the land that he dwells in'. Then one arose at her bedfoot 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 on the sea And when I'm far and far frae land My home it is in Sules Skerry And he has ta'en a purse of gold And he has 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 tae 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 you, you shall marry a pround gunner And a proud gunner I'm sure he'll be But the very first shot that e'er he shoots He'll kill both my young son and me.