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The Grey Silkie of Sule Skerry 
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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 
SOF