In Norwa there sits a maid "Byloo, my baby," she begins "Little know I my child's father For if land or sea he's living in"
Then there arose at her bed feet A grumbly guest, I'm sure it was he Saying, "Here am I, thy child's father Although that I am not comely
I am a man upon the land I am a selchie in the sea And when I am in my own country My dwelling is in Suleskerry"
Then he had taken a purse of gold And he hath put it upon her knee Saying, "Give to me my little wee son And take thee up thy nurse's fee
It shall come to pass on a summer's day When the sun shines hot on every stone That I shall take my little wee son And teach him for to swim in the foam
You will marry a gunner good And a proud good gunner I'm sure he will be But he'll go out on a May morning And kill both my wee son and me"
Loath she did marry a gunner good And a proud good gunner, I'm sure it was he The very first shot that he did shoot He killed the son and the gray selchie
In Norwa there sits a maid "Byloo, my baby," she begins "Little know I my child's father For if land or sea he's living in"