The Corries - The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry

This ballad originate's from my homeland the Orkney Islands. A "silkie" is a supernatural being who lives in the sea. They wear sealskins to travel through the ocean, and take them off when they are on land to give the local women a dam good seein too!!

[@sarahfraser910]

Ronnie Browne, his beautiful voice: I've heard this song since a child, Ronnie's rendition is without comparison. The Seal legend is still alive....

[@sarahfraser910]

When I lived at Nairn, there was a local legend there of Selkies... it wasn't just the islands. (A friend of ours from the Hebridies was born with webs between his fingers and toes.)

[@davidmitchell1959]

I’m 68 and saw the Corries a couple of times back in the day. This song was always one of my (many) favourites of theirs. I loved the brooding tone of the song and their wonderful playing. This is such a great find to see this here.

[@iainbrown4069]

Great book about Selkie man called ‘A stranger came ashore’ I think it was based around Shetland.

[@ComradeGrimmGames]

Here's a transcription of how Ronnie sings this haunting rendition: An earthly nourris sits and sings, And aye she sings, "Ba lilly wean, Little ken I my bairnie's faither, Far less the land that he bides in." Then up come he to her bed fit, Ane grumly guest I'm sure was he, Saying "Here am I, thy bairnie's faither, Although I may not comely be. I am a man upon the land, And I'm a silkie on the sea, And when I'm far n' far frae land, My haime is in the Sule Skerry." And he has taken a pot of gold And he's set it on her knee, Saying, "Gaie tae me my ain wee son And you accept your nourris fee. It shall come to pass on a summer's day When the sun shines bright on every staine, That I will tak my ain wee son And learn him how tae swim the feam, And you will marry a proud gunner, And a right good gunner I'm sure he'll be, And with the first shot that e'er he fires He'll kill baith my bonnie son and me." Thankfully the great site MainlyNorflok has a collection of different renditions for your reading pleasures you can find here: mainlynorfolk.info/steeleye.span/songs/greatsilkieofsuleskerry.html

[@kentwiseman4853]

My granfather seal hunting was trapped on a ice pan and rescued by raf my uncle frantically ran and jumped from pan to pan reaching land with bare feet ....the ice broke early that year.in newfoundland,...this song is healing.

[@bertvandam1]

We love the music when we travelling in Schotland, special the Orkney.s islands

[@aclaibor]

When I was three I went to the highland games (1955). There young women sang silkie songs, in a language older than gaelic, I remember now, these years later, thinking of the seal people who understood their songs.

[@sarahfraser910]

What language were they speaking?

[@aclaibor]

@@sarahfraser910 The Scottish Gaelic speakers said (or so my mother said) that the language was not Scottish Gaelic. Something older, maybe Brythonic but I'm thinking it was probably a Goidelic tongue older than Scottish Gaelic.

[@althaushexe]

This is brilliant! The way they play it is so haunting.

[@blarghness]

The first time I heard this (just a few days ago) I was awestruck. It's been on repeat pretty much ever since.

[@Al.W7263]

I,m from Clydebank originally. I've been listening to the Corries since 1969. They took me through the army(Scots Guards) from '69-75. Brilliant.That's from the age of 15-21.

[@rjjcms1]

My mum had the Live at the Lyceum LP so we got to hear this quite a few times in the mid-70s when I was about 10-11 (I remember Roy calling a heckler in the audience a narky old bugger during one of their inter-song chats). It's a haunting song. Been a long time since I heard it before now.

[@TheDdonmac22]

Ah nae luck

[@ClausPetersen]

Great song we heard about in annika!

[@chelsieclaire1473]

Read about this in my Scottish Myths & Legends book, although it was under the name "Lady Odivere". Sad and tragic story, but a beautiful ballad.

[@EmeraldVideosNL]

I jumped up when I read the title you mentioned, because I have a book of the same name. I looked it up, but that story is not in mine sadly.😒

[@jobarrieglenn]

Used to play this song more than 39 years ago. About to re -do. Love the Corries version. Haunting

[@jameslederer6465]

The Corries do the best version of every song. Check out Peggy Gordon or Wild Mountain Thymefor some well known examples that rise above the rest.

[@Sagenmrr]

As a kid in America, I was haunted by a young-adult novel called "Seal Woman", about a man who meets an Irish woman with webbed hands who swims with the seals in the sea. Another related story (modern fantasy, nontraditional) is "The Woman who Loved Reindeer"by Robin McKinley.

[@lecarrozzerecords]

so lovely, their version soughs like the waves...

[@unseelie63]

Haunting.Ronnie's voice!

[@LokiSilverFlame]

I love the Secret of Roan Inish. Wonderful movie!

[@snedisdead]

I first heard this song on a tape (yes, a cassette tape) my sister picked up in the Orkneys. She always figured they were a local band but was never sure. The front of the cassette had looked like it had some sort of hand drawn album art. Alas the tape and name of the group are long gone. It was the best rendition of this tune that I've heard, but this one IS pretty darned good.

[@jacobsgranddaughter]

Beautiful voice and haunting melody!💕

[@Kakaroane]

Silkie, Selkie, Silchie, Selchie, Roane, Otarion, a lot of names for one creature. ;)

[@alanhb4]

never mind whether its the grey silkie or not (i'm pretty sure it is )...great posting of the best scottish music duo ever...i was lucky in my childhood to have watched and met them several times ...thx ross

[@buckroo8424]

There’s an Irish movie here about the half seal and half man! Really great movie. It’s called Roan Inish as I remember.

[@tlcmc6451]

It's about a selkie woman and her descendants. It's an Irish movie based on a Scottish story - The Secret of Ron Mor Skerry, a children's book by Rosalie K Fry.

[@TheLittledikkins]

It is good, but the title is The Secret of Roan Inish.

[@fionamcgregor4268]

That film was on KZbin not too long ago, it's probably still here if you look.

[@LokiSilverFlame]

Thank you for posting this video. This is the first time I've heard this song and I'm very interested in Silkies/Selkies and their stories.

[@briciolaa]

Oh this is the first time I listen to something like this, and I really love it! I'm in love with that voice ^o^ p.s where the uncultured swines who disliked this at, c'mere and fight me

[@Gilnar13]

"Ah, The Cowies... you play that celtic wubish..." xD

[@Arkybark]

Ronnie Browne at his very best!

[@jamiecorrigan3241]

As Always ~~~~~~ GREAT !!!

[@percythepunter]

Thank you Ross. I first heard this lovely song courtesy of US folk group the Highwaymen back in the 60's and just recently watched a fanciful IRISH movie based on the legend. Somewhere amongst my vinyl collection I've got a Corries LP but not with this song. A good group from a wonderful era!

[@TheLittledikkins]

I love the name the owner of the channel uses. Too funny for words.

[@kentwiseman4853]

Beautiful.

[@alysononoahu8702]

Grew up with my older sisters playing this. Now why is that?

[@kentwiseman791]

Excellent tune.

[@adrianabustamante7111]

Hermoso!!

[@kingoftheteutons2157]

Verry relaxing

[@andrewlee-hart211]

I first heard this song sung by Joan Baez on her second album, she uses a different tune.

[@Gilnar13]

Thanks!

[@joejohnstone4306]

VOTED YES

[@TheTomhamilton8]

a good song

[@Gilnar13]

Do you have the next song, that comes after this? The one they played to that narky musicians?

[@cowgirlmagic18]

Great song! Where did you get this recording? I love the conversation at the end about the "narky musician." I'd love to hear the rest of it if you could tell me where to find it. Thanks!

[@murdochmclennan3510]

cowgirl magic 18 Type corries Lyceum Blues into your search feature: It should appear. The parody of blues music is great!

[@graylad]

Kirkintilloch is hame.

[@myaincountrie]

There's another version in which he seduces women, then kills them. He is killed himself when a maiden rubs his neck with Orkney grass.

[@BeachBadger78]

Another ... reason to avoid that Orkney grass... I knew it... I knew it.... 🤣

[@myaincountrie]

It's definitely great, not grey, I've got the sheet music and it shows up in Charles Vess' book, "Ballads", but it doesn't really matter, I love the song and the Corries' rendition.

[@moraggrant9856]

SSSnakey b

[@paidiodubhshlaine]

Does someone know what key this is in?

[@nwofoe2866]

how much Scotch whiskey does it take to come up with this tale?

[@bertaga41]

great song but the hairspray is knockout!

[@earlyspring3177]

Longest slowest version I have heard. No more words or special effects, just long and slow. I real video might improve rating.

[@alysononoahu8702]

Gorgeous version

[@earlyspring3177]

@@alysononoahu8702 The version I first knew sung in 4 minutes with a haunting quaver unlike any other kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKu9qmWHaLaMZrM . I was spoiled for any alternative voice and words.

[@murdochmclennan3510]

To TheSheepPimp: THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS LOVELY SONG. BUT I DISLIKE YOUR USERNAME, YOUR PHOTOGRAPH, AND YOUR MISUSE OF THE APOSTROPHE IN ORIGINATES. JUST BECAUSE THE WORD ENDS IN "S" DOES NOT MEAN IT REQUIRES AN APOSTROPHE: IT IS A PLURAL!

[@TheSheepPimp]

I'm glad you like the song. My username, profile pic and bad grammar are irrelevant. Have a nice day.

[@chunky-_-puddles]

Why are you shouting??? Does one misplaced apostrophe get your back up THAT much? Ever considered anger management...or failing that, a little perspective 🥴

[@LaFlaneuse0]

@@chunky-_-puddles I find it hilarious haha

[@danielbisson8032]

JOAN BAEZ DOES THIS SONG BEST

[@27272745]

Who?