An earthly nourris sits and sings
And aye she sings, Hi lilly wean
And little ken I my bairn’s father
Far less the land where he dwells in

For he did step to her bedside
And a grumly guest I’m sure ‘t was he
Saying « Here am I, thy bairn’s father
Although I be not commonly

I am a man upon the land
I am a silkie in the sea
And when I’m far at far frae line
My home it is in Sule Skerry

And he did take a purse of gold
And he did place it upon her knee
Saying, give to me, my little young son
And take thee up thy nouris fee

And it shall come to pass on a fine summer’s day
When the sun shines brightly on every stone
That I shall take my little young son
And teach him how to swim the foam

And you shall marry a proud gunner
And a right fine gunner I’m sure he’ll be
And the very first shot that e’re he shoots
Will kill both my young son and me