Music that inspired the novel
Song of the Water Kelpie
traditional Manx piece
The Song of the Seals
A sea maid sings, on yonder reef, the spellbound seals draw near
A lilt that lures beyond belief, mortals enchanted hear
Coi ran oi ran oi ran oi ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee la luran.
The wandering plowman halts his plow, the maid her milking stays
And sheep on hillside, bird on bow, Pause and listen in amaze
Coi ran oi ran oi ran oi ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee la luran.
Was it a dream? Were all asleep? Or did she cease her strain?
For the seals with a splash dive into the deep, And the world goes on again, yet lingers her refrain..
Coi ran oi ran oi ran oi ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee la luran.
The main inspiration for Selkie Dreams was the old Childe ballad 113, The Silkie of Sule Skerrie. It was collected in the Orkneys of Scotland.
The Silkie of Sule Skerrie
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.
Then in steps he to her bed feet, And a grumbly guest I’m sure was he
Saying here am I they bairn’s father, Although I be not comely.
I am a man upon the land, I am a selkie on the sea
And when I’m far and far frae land, My home it is in Sule Skerrie.
It was no ill for a maiden fair, It was no ill indeed quote she
That the great Silkie of Sule Skerrie, Should have come and brought a bairn to me.
And he had ta’en a purse of gold, And he had placed it 'pon 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 stone
I’ll come and fetch my little young son, And teach him how to swim the foam.
And ye shall marry a proud gunner, And a right fine gunner I’m sure he’ll be
And the very first shot that er’er he shoots, Will kill both my young son and me.
Alas, alas the maiden cried, This weary fate that’s laiden me
And when she sobbed and when she sighed, Her tender heart did break in three.
Song of the Water Kelpie
traditional Manx piece
The Song of the Seals
A sea maid sings, on yonder reef, the spellbound seals draw near
A lilt that lures beyond belief, mortals enchanted hear
Coi ran oi ran oi ran oi ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee la luran.
The wandering plowman halts his plow, the maid her milking stays
And sheep on hillside, bird on bow, Pause and listen in amaze
Coi ran oi ran oi ran oi ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee la luran.
Was it a dream? Were all asleep? Or did she cease her strain?
For the seals with a splash dive into the deep, And the world goes on again, yet lingers her refrain..
Coi ran oi ran oi ran oi ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee ro, Coi ran oi ran oi ran ee la luran.
The main inspiration for Selkie Dreams was the old Childe ballad 113, The Silkie of Sule Skerrie. It was collected in the Orkneys of Scotland.
The Silkie of Sule Skerrie
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.
Then in steps he to her bed feet, And a grumbly guest I’m sure was he
Saying here am I they bairn’s father, Although I be not comely.
I am a man upon the land, I am a selkie on the sea
And when I’m far and far frae land, My home it is in Sule Skerrie.
It was no ill for a maiden fair, It was no ill indeed quote she
That the great Silkie of Sule Skerrie, Should have come and brought a bairn to me.
And he had ta’en a purse of gold, And he had placed it 'pon 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 stone
I’ll come and fetch my little young son, And teach him how to swim the foam.
And ye shall marry a proud gunner, And a right fine gunner I’m sure he’ll be
And the very first shot that er’er he shoots, Will kill both my young son and me.
Alas, alas the maiden cried, This weary fate that’s laiden me
And when she sobbed and when she sighed, Her tender heart did break in three.
