The Mermaid Song

[Blind Rhoid Pyle]

I heard the Mermaid Song every Friday morning of my youth, thanks to a DJ on an obnoxious Central NJ radio station. He would play this every Friday morning, because of the opening lyrics.

I was thrilled to find it on a CD put out by the performers of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. They do a fine cover of the song (the performance of the ship's cook must be heard to be believed!) but the lyrics were a bit different than I had remembered. I've included a slightly different version below.

Has anyone heard any variations of this song?

The Mermaid Song

Twas Friday morn when we set sail

And we were not far from the land

When the captain, he spied a lovely mermaid

With a comb and a glass in her hand

chorus

O the ocean's waves will roll

And the stormy winds will blow

While we poor sailors go skipping to the top

And the landlubbers lie down below (below, below)

And the landlubbers lie down below

And up spoke the captain of our gallant ship

And a well-spoken man was he

I have me a wife in Salem by the sea

And tonight she a widow will be

chorus

And up spoke the cookie of our gallant ship

And a red hot cookie was he

Saying I care much more for my pots and my pans

Than I do for the bottom of the sea

chorus

Then up spoke the cabinboy, of our gallant ship

And a nasty little lad was he.

I'm not quite sure I can spell "mermaid"

But I'm going to the bottom of the sea.

chorus

Then three times around went our gallant ship

And three times around went she

Three times around went our gallant ship

And she sank to the bottom of the sea

chorus

KEY G

verse:

G G C C

C D7 G

G G C C

C D7 G

chorus:

G G G G

G G D7 D7

G G C C

C D7 G

[El Pirata]

There been a fair bit of talk 'bout mermaids on the site as of late...

[Atlantic Enchantress]

Perhaps you will find better luck on a yahoo search. Just type in

"lyrics The Mermaid Song" (without the quotes!)

You may find other versions of this song on kazaa.com

Good luck to you.

[Scarlett Rackham]

The Crimson Pirates have a great version on their first CD

www.crimsonpirates.com

[Blind Rhoid Pyle]

The Crimson Pirates have a great version on their first CD.

I'll check it out. Thankee muchly.

[Scarlett Rackham]

you are very welcome their second cd is even better. Your Day in the barrel...

[QuirkyGrrrl]

Ahoy!

The Seadogs have a version of this too on their cd "Maiden Voyage."

The Mermaid

'Twas Friday morn when we set sail

And we were not far from the land

When the captain espied a fishy mermaid

With a comb and a glass in her hand

Well, the ocean waves may roll, And the stormy winds may blow

While we poor sailors go skipping to the top, And the landlubbers lie down below, below, below

And the landlubbers lie down below

Then up spoke the captain of our famous ship

And a well-spoken captain was he

This fishy mermaid has warned me of our doom

And tonight we drowned shall be

Well, the ocean waves may roll, And the stormy winds may blow

While we poor sailors go skipping to the top, And the landlubbers lie down below, below, below

And the landlubbers lie down below

Then up spoke the cabin boy of our famous ship

And a well-spoken cabin boy was he

I've a mother and a father in Salem-By-The-Sea

And tonight they childless shall be

Well, the ocean waves may roll, And the stormy winds may blow

While we poor sailors go skipping to the top, And the landlubbers lie down below, below, below

And the landlubbers lie down below

Then up spoke the cookie of our gallant ship

And a well-spoken cookie was he

I care much more for me pots and me pans

Than I do for the bottom of the sea

Well, the ocean waves may roll, And the stormy winds may blow

While we poor sailors go skipping to the top, And the landlubbers lie down below, below, below

And the landlubbers lie down below

Then three times around went our gallant ship

And three times around went she

O, Three times around went our gallant ship

And she sank to the bottom of the sea

Well, the ocean waves may roll, And the stormy winds may blow

While we poor sailors go skipping to the top, And the landlubbers lie down below, below, below

And the landlubbers lie down below

[Lady Elaina]

I really like this song.. being that I am a mermaid...

[Blind Rhoid Pyle]

Verse Variation

Up jumped the gunner of our gallant ship,

and a rough, tough fightin' man was he

"I care much more for me cannon and me balls,

than I do for the bottom of the sea."

[Lady Elaina]

I be lovin yer poetry.......especially the one with the Captain , mermaid and the net....

[Connecticut Ben]

ARRR! We allus sang the cook's verse thusly:

"I care much more fer me pottles an' me kets ..."

dunno why. Local variation, I guess.

But I'll be addin' the gunner's verse next time I sing it, too.

Sing on!

CT Ben