I saw her by the Selkie rocks
One cold December day
She slowly pulled herself ashore
A seal so cold and grey
She slipped the sealskin off her back
Became the fairest maid I’d seen
With hair of purest silver
And eyes of deepest green
I watched her as she carefully hid
The cold sealskin away
And all along the golden sand
She merrily did play
But such an awful thing I did
The cold sealskin I stole
And I pray the good Lord God above
Has mercy on my soul
Then when at last she came and found
The cold sealskin was gone
I stepped forth for to comfort her
And condemn the dreadful wrong
I offered her my woollen coat
I offered her my arm
And led her to my cottage where
I promised her no harm
She lived with me for three short months
And we married in the spring
Our cottage was a place of joy
With laughter it did ring
She bore to me two children fair
A daughter and a son
And I very soon forgot about
The awful thing I’d done
For ten long years we lived our life
And we loved each day anew
Our children were our pride and joy
And we watched them as they grew
But oft times I would find my love
Still searching on the shore
For the skin that I’d hidden neath the thatch
Above the cottage door
And then one day as I returned
From Ballymartin fair
I spied down by the Selkie rocks
My wife and children there
And underneath her arm she held
The sealskin that I’d stole
And a bolt of fear shot through my heart
And pierced my very soul
I hurried down the sandy bank
Too late too late, I knew
For she wrapped the sealskin round her back
And around our children too
Then three grey seals raced o’er the rocks
Bound for the sea so green
And a splash of white and a flash of grey
Was the last of them I seen
So now each cold December day
To the Selkie rocks I go
I search and call from dusk to dawn
But it’s all in vain I know
I’ll never find my darling wife
My daughter or my son
A just but cruel punishment
For the awful thing I’d done
And now you’ve listened to my tale
A warning I shall share
If you should meet a green-eyed maid
With silver in her hair
Be kind and be considerate
Don’t force her for to stay
And keep away from the Selkie rocks
On a cold December day
Yes keep away from the Selkie rocks
On a cold December day.
