Silkie

Silkie - Joan Baez (瓊·貝茲)

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 was he

Saying "Here am I thy bairn's father

Although I be not comely

"I am a man upon the land

I am a silkie on 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 "