An earthly nooris sits and spins
And aye she sings ba lilley wain
Sayin', "Little ken I my bairn's father
Far less the land that he bides in"
And he was there at her bedfoot
And a grumlie guest, I'm sure, 'twas he
Sayin', "Here am I, thy bairn's father
Although I be not comely"
"I am a man upon the land
And I am a Silkie in the sea
But when I'm far and far frae land
Then he's taen oot a purse o' gold
And he has thrown it upon her knee
Sayin', "Gi tae me my bonny wee son
And tak' thee up thy nooris fee___"
"For it'll come to pass on a summer's day
When the sun shines bright on every stane
That I'll come and tak' my bonny wee son
And teach him how to swim the fame"
"And you shall marry a gunner good
And a proud gunner, I'm sure he'll be
But the very first shot that e'er he fires
He'll kill both your young son and me"
"I am a man upon the land
And I am a Silkie in the sea
But when I'm far and far frae land