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Selkie - Helen Slater

The Selkie recording runs as one continuous piece.
It is meant to be listened to in one sitting.
with love, Helen

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LYRICS & NARRATION

SELKIE

This is the story of the selkie and the fisherman.
Once upon a time there was a lonely fisherman. Through wind, sleet, rain and snow would he catch his fish. The lines on his face from loneliness were deep. Then, one August night, under a full moon, a selkie and her pod swam up onto the rocks. They unzipped their pelts that they might feel the warm wind and water on their skin. Full of joy and mischief the selkie lay with her friends blissfully happy.

SISTER SELKIES

SISTER SELKIES OF MY HEART
BENEATH THE LANTERNED SKY
I MAKE THIS PRAYER FOR EACH OF US
UNTIL THE DAY WE DIE
(THAT) IF WE EVER LOSE OUR WAY
FORGET WHERE WE BELONG
WE’LL LISTEN FOR THE OCEAN
WE’LL LISTEN TO THE OCEAN’S
WE’LL HEAR THE OCEAN’S CALL

“Whoosh! Whee! Wait for me!,” the selkie cried. “My pelt, where’s my pelt..?” And when the selkie looked up from the rocks, she saw the fisherman standing on the shore, holding her seal skin, for he had taken it.

COLD INSIDE

MADAM DON’T A-FEAR
I COME TO YOU IN PEACE
I ONLY ASK A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME
FOR MANY YEARS I’VE LIVED MY LIFE ALONE...
THE TEMPER OF THE SEA IS ALL I’VE KNOWN
THE LAND WAS LESS FAMILIAR
THEN THE CHANGING TIDE
AND I WAS VERY COLD INSIDE

THROUGH FOG AND SLEET AND SNOW AND RAIN
THE BOON OF LOVE NOT MINE TO GAIN
TOSS MY NET I WOULD
I CAST IT FAR AND WIDE
AND MADE PEACE WITH THE COLD INSIDE

UNTIL TONIGHT WHEN YOU WERE THERE
AND EVERY PARTICLE OF BEING SHATTERED
TO A MILLION PIECES

AND A WARMTH I NEVER KNEW ABSORBED MY SOUL MY SOUL
I DON’T KNOW WHAT I COULD ASK OF YOU
BUT IN MY EYES YOU’LL SEE ITS TRUE
THIS FEELING IN MY HEART
CANNOT BE DENIED
I’M NO LONGER COLD
INSIDE

A FISHERMAN I’LL ALWAYS BE
UNDAUNTED BY THE CHANGING SEA
BUT YOU’RE THE MORNING SUN
A TRUTH I MUST ABIDE
AND I’M NO LONGER COLD
I’M NO LONGER COLD
INSIDE

“Marry me” the fisherman said. “And if after seven years you are unhappy, I promise I will return your pelt to you.” The selkie looked into the fisherman’s eyes and saw that he was kind. “Yes,” she said. “I will. Let’s see what happens.” And, so began the selkie’s new life.

TAKING A CHANCE ON LAND

A LITTLE STRANGE
A LITTLE ODD
THE SUN ON MY SKIN
A LITTLE BIT COLD
WHAT LIES AHEAD?
AS MY FINGERS UNFOLD
MY TOES IN THE SAND
TAKING A CHANCE ON THE LAND

A LITTLE WEIRD
A LITTLE WILD
CHANGING THE COURSE
LEAVING FAMILY BEHIND
A QUICKENING FORCE
AS MY FEELINGS UNWIND
A MOMENT UNPLANNED
TAKING A CHANCE ON THE LAND

OH HOW MY HEART SINGS FOR HIM
WARMING ME OVER
A KISS LIKE AMBROSIA
ALIGHTS ME FROM WITHIN

UP ON THE HILL
A VIEW OF THE SEA
A LITTLE STONE HOUSE
FLOWERS IN THE YARD
A HEARTH AND A FIRE
THIS WON’T BE TOO HARD
THERE’S ROOM TO EXPAND
TAKING A CHANCE ON THE LAND

ANOTHER BREATH
A LOT OF SKY
WIND AT MY BACK
SALT IN THE AIR
WHO I ONCE WAS
IS NO LONGER THERE
HOLDING HIS HAND
HAPPY HERE LIVING ON LAND

WIND AT MY BACK
HOLDING HIS HAND
TAKING A CHANCE ON LAND

And the fisherman and the selkie fell in love.


ROBINS EGG

LOVE LIKE A GENTLE WAVE
CRASHING MY ROUTINE DAYS
LEAVING BEDS UNMADE
THERE’S PLATES ON THE COUNTER
WASH ON THE FLOOR
SOCKS HANGING OVER THE DRAWER

LOVE LIKE THE MORNING
CLOUDS WITHOUT WARNING
BLUSH SCARLETT AND ROSE

OH I FALL INTO THE CALM
AS I’M LIFTED UP IN AN ANGEL’S ARMS
THE SKY IT’S DRIPPING
A ROBIN’S EGG BLUE
I CRY FOR JOY
AS I UNTIE MY SHOES
AND I’LL BE HOPING AND WISHING AND PRAYING
TO STAY HERE WITH YOU

LOVE LIKE A YELLOW MOON
PAINTED ON MIDNIGHT BLUE
CATCHING A WISH THEN TWO
I PULL ON HIS SWEATER
WE RUN ‘ROUND THE TREE
MY HAND IN HIS POCKET
SO FREE

OH I FALL INTO THE CALM
AS I’M LIFTED UP IN AN ANGEL’S ARMS
THE NIGHT IS IN MOTION
THE MOMENT STANDS STILL
I GET HOLD OF MYSELF
AS I LET GO MY WILL

AND I’LL BE HOPING AND WISHING
AND THINKING AND PRAYING
HOW LUCKY TO BE HERE WITH YOU

After a year of living on land, and being in love, the selkie gave birth to a beautiful boy named “Oruk”. OROOOOOOK! So did his name, his complexion, his nature fill both their hearts with joy.

NEW LIFE

NEW LIFE
NEW BOY
NEW WOMAN AM I
SOFTLY I HOLD THEE
MY LOVE

GRACE AND MERCY
SEATED IN MY SOUL
ONCE WAS HALF
NOW WHOLE

GONE NOW
GONE NOW
TAKE THIS SELFISH NEED
BLESS THIS PRECIOUS SEED

NEW WORLD
NEW LIGHT
NEW MOTHER AM I
GENTLY I KISS THEE
MY LOVE
GONE NOW
GONE NOW
TAKE THIS SELFISH NEED
BLESS THIS PRECIOUS SEED

BR: JOY JOY JOY WE THREE
SWEET THE BIND
OF FAMILY

TAKE THIS SELFISH NEED
BLESS THIS PRECIOUS SEED

And the selkie gave over completely to her human form

I DON’T GIVE IN

AND AS THE YEARS GO BY
I DO LOVE THE BOY
AND I LOVE THE MAN
AND EVERY SMALL CHANGE I SEE
LIKE WHEN HE WALKED TO ME
IS A REVELATION

AND WHEN I HEAR THE OCEAN CALL
I FEEL THE PULL BEGIN
I DON’T GIVE IN

AS THE YEARS GO BY
I CELEBRATE THE BOUNTY OF THE EARTH
HOW FROM A PATCH OF GREEN
SOMETHING GROWS UNSEEN
UNFOLDING IN REBIRTH

AND WHEN I HEAR THE OCEAN CALL
ASKING WHERE I’VE BEEN
I DON’T GIVE IN

BR: NO NOT NOW PLEASE
NO NOT NOW PLEASE
I WON’T ABIDE

AND AS THE YEARS GO BY
I HAVE ENTWINED MY LIFE TO HIS
IN THE MORNING HOUR
A SEPTEMBER SHOWER
I’M AT PEACE WITH HOW LIFE IS

AND WHEN I HEAR THE OCEAN CALL
A WHISPER IN THE DIN
I DON’T GIVE IN

Another year went by. Then three, four, five and six years passed. One morning, in the seventh year, the selkie woke up.... and was not feeling herself. She gazed out the window to the sea. And waited...but the darkness was encompassing and would not pass. Her skin was no longer soft; there was a chafing and roughness that she hadn’t had before. Not understanding what to do she continued on with her daily life.

SKIN IS CRACKED

WATCH THE BREATH
SWEEP THE FLOOR
MAKE THE MEAL YOU’VE MADE A HUNDRED TIMES BEFORE
SEW THE CLOTH
STRIP THE ED
SIP A LITTLE WHISKEY FOR THE ACHING IN MY HEAD BECAUSE MY

SKIN IS CRACKED
MY LIPS ARE PARCHED AND BLEEDING THERE ARE BLISTERS ON MY BACK
AND THERE’S THE CALL OF THE OCEAN
THE PULL OF THE SEA
SOMETHING OLD AND ANCIENT IS BECKONING TO ME
IT’S SAYING
COME HOME
COME HOME

WIPE THE WINDOW
HANG THE LIGHT
JUST ANOTHER DAY TURNED INTO JUST ANOTHER NIGHT
CLOSE MY EYES THOUGH NOT FOR VERY LONG
THERE’S A PUSHING AND A KNEADING AND AN ACHING TO BE STRONG BECAUSE MY
SKIN IS CRACKED
MY LIPS ARE PARCHED AND BLEEDING THERE ARE BLISTERS ON MY BACK
AND THERE’S THE CALL OF THE OCEAN
PULL OF THE SEA
SOMETHING OLD AND ANCIENT IS BECKONING TO ME IT’S SAYING
COME HOME
COME HOME

LISTEN
IN THE DISTANCE
SHE IS CALLING AND SPEAKING MY NAME
SOMETHING I REMEMBER
SOMEWHERE I SHOULD BE
SHE IS CALLING TO ME

A coldness descended in the fisherman’s house. The selkie again spent long hours looking out the window. Oruk could bring a smile to her face, but inside something was not right.

RUMMAGE

I SEARCH
I RUMMAGE I PRAY THAT I WILL FIND
THE SKIN THAT HAS BEEN HIDDEN
THE SEAL SKIN THAT IS MINE

I KNOW IT MUST BE SOMEWHERE
IN A CORNER OF THE HOUSE
BUT, WHERE?

UP IN THE CLOSET
ON THE NARROW SECOND SHELF
A SCENT OF THE FAMILIAR
REMINDS ME OF MYSELF
STILL I DO NOT SEE IT
THOUGH MY EYES OPEN WIDE
OH, WHERE?

I’M SITTING ON THE FEELING
SOMETHING’S WRONG WITH ME
(HOW COULD I) WANT TO LEAVE THE BOY?
(HOW COULD I) WANT TO LEAVE THEMAN?
OH, WHERE…?

DOWN IN THE BASEMENT
BEHIND THE BROKEN DOOR
FISHING FOR THE SEALSKIN UNDERNEATH THE WOODEN FLOOR
NOTHING THERE IS NOTHING AS I DIG INTO THE GROUND
OH, WHERE?

OUT IN THE SHED WITH THE BUOYS AND THE LINES
MY FINGERS RED AND SWOLLEN
FROM MY EMPTY-HANDED FINDS
I KNOW IT MUST BE SOMEWHERE
INVISIBLE TO ME
OH, WHERE...?
I’M SITTING ON THE FEELING
OF A KINDLED FIRE
TURNING TO A BLAZING RAGE
TURNING INTO BROKEN GLASS
OH, WHERE...?

MAMA, IS THIS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?
IT WAS UNDERNEATH THE CHEST INSIDE MY ROOM
MAMA, IS THIS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?
I HOPE IT MAKES YOU HAPPY... SOON

The selkie let out a cry of amazement and took the pelt and the boy into her arms. She spun him around the room. When they came to a stop the fisherman was standing in the doorway looking at them both. “Oruk, go out and play.”



ANYWHERE INSIDE

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
TELL ME WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING?
LEAVE ME AND YOUR SON
YOU’RE ICY AND COLD
LIKE I’M SOMETHING TO BARE
AS YOU STARE THROUGH THE WINDOW PAST ME
LOOKING TO THE SEA

WHAT IN THE WORLD COULD BE WAITING OUT THERE
THAT YOU’D GIVE UP OUR EVERY DAY LIFE THAT WE SHARE
WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE NOT HAPPY NOT FREE
I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART YOU LOVE ME

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS BETWEEN US
THAT I THOUGHT YOU UNDERSTOOD
LIKE THE READING BY THE FIRE
AND THE CARVINGS IN THE WOOD
AND THE THOUSAND TIMES MY HEART WAS OPEN WIDE
SOMETHING YOU MUST FEEL INSIDE

LOOK AT YOU NOW WITH YOUR ARMS TIGHTLY WOUND
AS YOU SCORCH AND YOU SMASH AND YOU BURN TO THE GROUND
THE YEARS WE HAVE BUILT
AND OUR BEAUTIFUL BOY
NOT A TRACE OF THE JOY IN YOUR EYE
YOU CANNOT MEAN GOOD BYE

ITS THOSE LITTLE CONVERSATIONS
LIKE THE BEAUTY OF THE TREE
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
MAKING OF THE TEA
AND THE NIGHTS WE WALKED ALONG THE CHANGING TIDE
DON’T YOU WANT THAT ANYWHERE INSIDE

I CAN’T LET YOU LEAVE
I WON’T LET YOU GO
NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU MAY MAKE THIS I KNOW
THE CALL OF THE WAVES
THE SIZE OF THE SWELL
YOUR HOME IS WITH US
IT’S THE LIFE YOU KNOW WELL

AND I WILL LOVE YOU MORE
I WILL TEND TO WHAT YOU NEED IN WAYS I HADN’T DONE BEFORE
I’M SORRY FOR THE WAYS I HAD NOT TRIED
DON’T YOU FEEL THAT ANYWHERE INSIDE?


LET ME GO

I DON’T MEAN TO CAUSE YOU HARM
I DON’T MEAN TO CAUSE YOU PAIN
CAN YOU HEAR THE WORDS I WANT TO SAY
YOU PROMISED ME FOR 7 YEARS
WE’D LIVE AND HAVE A HAPPY LIFE
AND SO WE DID
AND SO WE DID

AND I HAVE BEEN DEVOTED (I HAVE KEPT MY PROMISE)
AS A MOTHER AND A WIFE
YES I WAS-(YES I DID)
SO I WAS-(SO I DID)

I’M STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU ASKING PLEASE
LOOK INTO MY HEART AND YOU WILL KNOW
THE TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO RETURN
LET ME GO
LET ME GO

I WILL REMEMBER YOU
IN THE FIELD OF GREEN
AND THE AUTUMN RAIN
AND THE PURPLE FLOWER/LAVENDER
ALONG THE UNMARKED LANE

I WILL REMEMBER YOU
IN THE BRACING WIND
WHEN THE CHURCH BELLS RING
AND WE CLIMBED THE STEPS
TO HEAR THE BLUE BIRD SING
LET ME GO

BR: I AM NO LONGER HERE
I AM ALREADY GONE
BACK TO THE SEA
BACK DOWN BELOW
LET ME GO

HEAR THE TUMBLE AND ROAR
WITH HER ARMS OPEN WIDE
CALLING MY NAME
THIS MUCH I KNOW/I CANNOT SAY NO
LET ME GO

I WILL REMEMBER
IN THE QUIET HOUR
BEFORE THE LIGHT CAME IN
AND YOUR BEATING HEART
AGAINST MY SKIN
LET ME GO LET ME GO

The selkie threw her arms around the fisherman and holding him tight whispered, “I love you.” Then she ran out the door. Oruk, playing by the shore ran to his mother. She took his small face in her hands and blew oxygen into his lungs so that he would be able to breathe beneath the sea. “Now we will meet your ancestors and seal family now. Though you cannot live with me down here, you will know where you come from” And with that she put on her pelt, and they both dove beneath the ocean’s surface.

In the sea, Oruk was weightless, free and happy. Mother and son swam down to the depths of the ocean. There Oruk met his grandfather, aunts, uncles and cousins. He spent the day delighting and reveling in the ocean world.

When it came time for Oruk to return home, the selkie told him, “I love you. I will always be here when you need me”.

Oruk returned to his father. He grew up to be a fisherman. Over the years, the boy would go out in his boat. There- you could see a colony of seals gathered around him.



SISTER SELKIES (REPRISE)

IF YOU EVER LOSE OUR WAY
FORGET WHERE WE BELONG
WE’LL LISTEN FOR THE OCEAN
WE’LL LISTEN TO THE OCEAN’S
WE’LL HEAR THE OCEAN’S CALL

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CREDITS


Track and Mixing Engineer: Paul Tavenner
Produced by Phil Swann
Recorded at Big City Recording Studios, Granada Hills, CA.

Thank you - Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Joe McNair, Helen Hunt,
Rob - my heart and soul.
This record is for Hannah and all my sister selkies

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