An earthly nurse she sits and sings
And aye she sings baluly wain
Little ken I my bairns faither
Far less the land that she dwells in

For he come one night to her bed fit
And a grumbly guest I'm sure was he
Saying here I am thy bairns faither
Although that I be not comely

I am a man upon the land
I am a selkie in the sea
And when I'm far and far frae land
My dwelling is in suilskery

And he has tain a purse oh goud
And he has placed it on her knee
Saying gie to me my little young son
And take thee up thy nurse's fee

And it shall pass on a summer's morn
When the sun shines bright on every stain
I'll come and fetch my little young son
And teach him how to swim the faim

And ye shall marry a gunner good
And a very fine gunner I'm sure he'll be
And the very first shot that 'ere he shoots
Will shoot both my young son and me