THE GREY SILKIE OF SULE SKERRY



In Norwa land, there lived a maid

Baloo, my babe, this maid began

I ken na where your faither is

Nor yet the land where he dwells in



It happened on a certain day

When this fair maiden fell asleep

That in there come a grey silkie

And sat him doon at her bed feet



Saying awake, awake, my bonnie maid

For o how soundly thou dost sleep

I'll tell thee where his faither is

He's sitting close at thy bed feet



I pray come tell tae me your name

And tell me where your dwellin be

My name it is Gud Hein Mailler

An I earn ma living oot tae sea



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



Alas, alas, this woeful fate

This weary fate that's been laid on me

That a man should a come frae the West o Hoy

Tae the Norwa lands tae ha a bairn wi me



My dear I'll wed ye wi a ring

Wi a ring ma dear, I'll wed wi ye

Thou may go wed wi whom thou wilt

I'm sure ye'll never wed wi me



Thou will nurse ma bonnie son

For seven long years upon your knee

And at the end o seven long years

I'll come and pay the nurse's fee



She has nursed her little wee son

For seven long years upon her knee

And at the end o seven long years

He's come back wi gold and white money



Ma dear I'll wed ye wi a ring

Wi a ring ma dear, I'll wed wi thee

Thou may go wed wi whom thou wilt

I'm sure ye'll never wed wi me





But I'll put a gold chain roond his neck

A gey good gold chain it will be

That if e'er he comes tae the Norwa lands

You can hae a good guess it is he



An You will get a gunner good

An a gey good gunner it will be

An he'll gae oot on a May morning

An shot the son an the grey silkie



An she had got a gunner good

An a gey good gunner, I'm sure twas he

An he gae'd oot on a May morning

An he shot the son and the grey silkie



Alas, alas, this woeful fate

This weary fate that's been laid on me

And ance or twice she sobbed and sighed

An her tender heart, it brak in three



Child #113

from the singing of Jean Redpath

see also SILKIE1

@myth @love @animal @ballad

filename[ SILKIE2

SF

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