An earthly nurse sits and sings And aye she sings a lily wean Little ken I my bairn's father Far less the land that he dwells in For he's come one night to her bed's foot And a grumly guest I'm sure he'd be 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 the 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 I will come one summer's day When the sun shine's bright on every stane I'll come and fetch my little young son And teach him how to swim the faem And ye shall marry a gunner bold 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