Nobody's mentioned the treasure trove of lore related to Silkies; are they not mermaid enough for this thread? If anyone cares, this is how I remember and play it.


The Great Silkie

D                   C                     D
An earthly nurse sits and sings
       D                C                D
And aye she sings by lilly wean
         G             D          C          D
And little ken I my bairn's father
       Em                         C          D
Far less the land that he steps in

Then in steps he to her bed fit
And a grumbly guest I'm sure was he
Saying, "Here am I, my 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 frae land
My home it is in Sule Skerrie"

Then he has taken a purse of gold
And he has put it upon her knee
Saying, "Give to me my little young 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 stane
I'll come and fetch my little young son
And teach him how to swim the faem"

"And thou shall marry a gunner good
And a right fine gunner I'm sure he'll be
And the very first shot that e'er he shoots
Will kill both my young son and me"