Joan Baez - Silkie

joan baez , on joan baez vol . 2 , vanguard 79595 – 2 and on the joan baez ballad book ,
ed .
italiana orizzonte , ricordi , aorl 28344 , first released on joan baez vol . 2 , vanguard
1961 .
tune : the one composed by james waters in the late 1950s .

chords ( from the joan baez songbook )
G ( D ) F ( C ) G ( D )
an earthly nurse sits and sings
F ( C ) G ( D )
and aye , she sings by lily wean –
C ( G ) G ( D ) F ( C ) G ( D )
and little ken i my bairn’s father
F ( C ) Am ( Em ) Dm ( Am ) G ( D )
far less the land where he dwells in

an earthly nurse sits and sings
and aye , she sings by lily wean –
and little ken i my bairn’s father
far less the land where he dwells in

for he came on night to her bed feet
and a grumbly guest , i’m sure was he
saying – here Am i , thy 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

and he had ta’en a purse of gold
and he had placed 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 ye 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