The Great Selkie - Avalon Rising

In Norway there dwelt a maid

«By'loo my baby,» she begins

Saying «Little know I my baby’s father

Or if land or see he’s living in.»

Then there arose at her bed’s foot

A grumley ghaist, I’m sure was he

Saying «Here am I, thy baby’s father

Although that I’m not comely.»

«I am a man upon the land

And I am a selkie in the sea

And when I am in my own country

My dwelling is Shule Skerry.»

Then he’s taken out a purse of gold

And he has put it upon her knee

Saying «Give to me my little wee son

And take thee up thy nurse’s fee.»

And it shall come to pass on a summer’s day

When the sun shines bright on every stone

That I shall take out my little wee son

And teach him for to swim in the foam."

«And you shall marry a gunner good

And a proud young gunner I’m sure he’ll be

And he’ll go out on a fine May morning

And kill both my young son and me.»

And lo, she did marry a gunner good

And a fine young gunner I’m sure was he

And ther very first shot that he did shoot

It killed both the son and the Great Selkie

In Norway there dwelt a maid

«By'loo my baby,» she begins

Saying «Little know I my baby’s father

Or if land or sea he’s living in.»