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An earthly nurse sits and sings, |
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And aye she sings a lily wean - |
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"Little ken I my bairn's father, |
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Far less the land that he dwells in." |
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For he's come one night to her bed's foot |
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And a grumly guest I'm sure he'd be, |
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Saying, "Here am I, thy bairn's father, |
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Although I be not comely. |
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"I am a man upon the land, |
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I am a silkie in the sea, |
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And when I'm far and far from land, |
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My home it is the sule skerrie." |
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And he has ta'en a purse of gold, |
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And he had placed it upon her knee, |
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Saying, "Give to me my little young son |
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And take thee up thy nurse's fee. |
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"And I will come one summer's day |
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When the sun shine's bright on every stane, |
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I'll come and fetch my little young son, |
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And teach him how to swim the faem. |
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"And ye shall marry a gunner bold, |
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And a right fine gunner I'm sure he'll be, |
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And the very first shot that ever he shoots |
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Will kill both my young son and me." |