One of the most haunting of the Child Ballads, and my all-time favorite.
Richard Blackmon: Vocals, dulcimer
Carl Steen: Guitar
|
|
The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry
1. An earthly nurse sits and sings,
And aye, she sings, "By lilly wean.
And little ken I my bairn's father,
Far less the land where he dwells in."
2. For 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,
Althought I be not comely."
3. "For 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 Sule Skerry."
4. And he had taken a purse of gold,
And he had placed it on her knee,
Saying "Gie to me my little wee son,
And take thee up thy nurse's fee."
5. "And 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 wee son,
And teach him how to swim the foam."
6. "And ye shall marry a gunner good,
And a right fine gunner I'm sure he'll be,
And the very first shot that e're he doth shoot,
He'll kill both my young son and me."
7. And lo, she did marry a gunner good,
And a proud fine gunner I'm sure was he.
And the very first shot that e'er he did shoot,
He killed both the son and the Great Silkie.
x |
|
.jpg) |
|