“Selkie's Life (Back in the Ocean)” lyrics and music Marc Gunn
Performed by Marc Gunn
From CD: Come Adventure With Me
I’m going back to the ocean
I’m gonna feel the sand
I’m gonna roll in the waves
Like a seal swim away from the strand
I got to live among men
I swooned the ladies well
I gained many new friends
None of them compare to the swells
Going down to the ocean
I miss the ocean
I tried to ride the waves
I thought that I could thrive
I struggled to go with the current.
Every twist and turn felt contrived
Going down to the ocean
Back in the ocean
I got cold after a few days on the island
Good friends and lovers aren't warm enough for me
I wanna be free again, not hiding
The ocean is the place I need to be
I’m gonna dive ‘neath the waves
I’m gone with the setting sun
I’m going back to the depths
Where a selkie’s life was begun
Going down to the ocean
Back in the ocean
![](https://marcgunn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Selkies-Life-Blasket-Island-Ireland-Selena-E-2019-1024x514.jpg)
Photo by Selena E. from the Celtic Invasion of Dingle, Ireland 2019. Taken on the Blaskett Island.
Chords KEY D
[D]I’m going back to the ocean
[Em]I’m gonna [G]feel the [A7]sand
[D]I’m gonna roll in the waves
[Em]Like a seal swim [G]away [A7]from the strand
[G]I got cold after a few days on the [D]island
[Bm]Good friends and lovers aren't warm enough for [A]me
[G]I wanna be free again, not [D]hiding
The [Em]ocean is the place I need to [A]be
Background
This is a song about a selkie who visits the land only to decide it is not the place for him. He must get home.
NOTES
“Back in the Ocean” lyrics and music Marc Gunn
Tempo: 122
Marc Gunn: autoharp, vocals
Nathan Deese: bass, ukelele, whistle