The Seal skin, the Story, and the Sky
Just ran across the lyrics to this song, and I dearly would like to hear it sung. I'll probably cry; it's all true. I've been that selkie, more than once. I'm not going to say it's just as hard to be on the leaving side, I've been on both, and while neither is easy...well I at least have the ocean/river calling me when I go, and not just an empty place.
When a selkie loves a satyr it's for now and not forever;
When a selkie loves a satyr, any day could be goodbye.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
Kiss me now my darling, here within your greenwood garden;
Kiss me once for fortune fair and kiss me once for fate.
Kiss me now my darling, give my heart a chance to harden,
For I hear the white waves calling, and I fear the hour is late.
Lover I've been faithful; I've been everything you wanted.
I have danced with you on riverbanks and walked with you by night.
Lover I've been true to you, but now my heart is haunted,
For the tide is high within me, and I'm far too lost to fight.
When a selkie loves a satyr it's for now and not forever;
When a selkie loves a satyr, any day could be goodbye.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
We have had our story, love, and we have had our pleasures;
We have had our heartbeats chained to passion's timeless tide.
But nothing lasts forever, love, and all things have their measure;
When the siren-song of leaving calls, it cannot be denied.
Lover light your candle; lover lock the door behind me.
I have miles and miles to travel, and it's here you must remain.
Lover do not look for me, for you could never find me.
You may hold a stone or bank a fire, but you can't catch the rain.
When a selkie loves a satyr it's for now and not forever;
When a selkie loves a satyr, any day could be goodbye.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
Kiss me now my darling, here within your greenwood garden;
Darling, I'll remember you, when tide goes rolling out.
Kiss me now my darling, and I'll bid you peace, and pardon,
For you knew me when you took me, and I never gave you doubt.
Lover light your candle; lover find a way to leave me,
For the sea's another country, and I'll kiss you never more.
Lover turn your eyes away; you never could deceive me,
And I hear the white waves calling; lover, hurry. Shut the door.
When a selkie loves a satyr it's for now and not forever;
When a selkie loves a satyr, any day could be goodbye.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
Leaving nothing but a gray seal's skin and cold gray ocean sky.
Written on: 2008-02-25. Seanan McGuire
When a selkie loves a satyr it's for now and not forever;
When a selkie loves a satyr, any day could be goodbye.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
Kiss me now my darling, here within your greenwood garden;
Kiss me once for fortune fair and kiss me once for fate.
Kiss me now my darling, give my heart a chance to harden,
For I hear the white waves calling, and I fear the hour is late.
Lover I've been faithful; I've been everything you wanted.
I have danced with you on riverbanks and walked with you by night.
Lover I've been true to you, but now my heart is haunted,
For the tide is high within me, and I'm far too lost to fight.
When a selkie loves a satyr it's for now and not forever;
When a selkie loves a satyr, any day could be goodbye.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
We have had our story, love, and we have had our pleasures;
We have had our heartbeats chained to passion's timeless tide.
But nothing lasts forever, love, and all things have their measure;
When the siren-song of leaving calls, it cannot be denied.
Lover light your candle; lover lock the door behind me.
I have miles and miles to travel, and it's here you must remain.
Lover do not look for me, for you could never find me.
You may hold a stone or bank a fire, but you can't catch the rain.
When a selkie loves a satyr it's for now and not forever;
When a selkie loves a satyr, any day could be goodbye.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
Kiss me now my darling, here within your greenwood garden;
Darling, I'll remember you, when tide goes rolling out.
Kiss me now my darling, and I'll bid you peace, and pardon,
For you knew me when you took me, and I never gave you doubt.
Lover light your candle; lover find a way to leave me,
For the sea's another country, and I'll kiss you never more.
Lover turn your eyes away; you never could deceive me,
And I hear the white waves calling; lover, hurry. Shut the door.
When a selkie loves a satyr it's for now and not forever;
When a selkie loves a satyr, any day could be goodbye.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
For the leaving comes upon them, like the ocean's fickle weather,
Leaving nothing but the seal skin and the story and the sky.
Leaving nothing but a gray seal's skin and cold gray ocean sky.
Written on: 2008-02-25. Seanan McGuire