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Maiden And The Selkie - Heather Dale

Maiden And The Selkie

View chords used in this chart

verse 1

Am C G

Once a fair and handsome seal-lord lay his foot upon the sand

Am C G

For to woo the fisher’s daughter and to claim her marriage hand

C G C G

I have come in from the ocean, I have come in from the sea

Am C G Am

And I’ll not go to the waves, love, lest ye come along with me

verse 2

Am C G

Lord, long have I loved you as a selkie on the foam

Am C G

I would gladly go and wed ye and be lady of your home

C G C G

But I cannot go in to ocean, I cannot go into the sea

Am C G Am

I would drown beneath you waves love if I went along with thee

verse 3

Am C G

Lady, long have I loved you: I would have you from my wife

Am C G

I shall stay upon your shore land though it robs me of my life

C G C G

I’ll never go back to the ocean, never go back to the sea

Am C G Am

I shall stay one night beside you though it be the death of me

verse 4

Am C G

Lord I cannot go and wed thee all to watch my lover die

Am C G

Since I’ll not be left a widow I have a plan for us to try

C G C G

Let us speak with my grandmother who’s ever dwelt beside the sea

Am C G Am

She may know some trick or treasure that I may wed my fair selkie

Verse 5

Am C G

So they’ve gone to her grandmother’s little cottage by the sea

Am C G

To inquire how the maiden could be wed to her selkie

C G C G

For the seal-lord’s watery kingdom’d surely rob her of her breath

Am C G Am

But to stay on land past midnight, that would surely be his death

Verse 6

Am C G

Lord I know not how to aid you, you may never live on shore

Am C G

For your kind to live past dawning has never been seen before

C G C G

But my mother had a seal coat that she buried ‘neath a tree

Am C G Am

For she told me any wearer would become a fair selkie

Verse 7

Am C G

So they’ve journeyed farther inland though the seal-lord’s getting weak

Am C G

And she’s shouldering a shovel to unearth that thing they seek

C G C G

And at the rising of the full moon, underneath the elfin oak

Am C G Am

She’s unearthed that very treasure of which her grandmother spoke

Verse 8

Am C G

So just before the stroke of midnight they have made it back to sea

Am C G

And she’s donned that magic seal-coat and become a maid selkie

C G C G

Now they’ve gone into the ocean, hand in hand into the sea

Am C G Am

She has gone along, a fair seal-bride for her selkie

How to play Maiden And The Selkie

Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.

What is the starting chord?

The first identified chord is Am. You can transpose without leaving the page.

Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?

Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.

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