The Mermaid

‘Twas Friday morn when we set sail

And we were not far from the land

When the captain spied a lovely mermaid

With a comb and a glass in her hand

Oh, the ocean wave may roll,

And the stormy seas may blow,

But we poor sailors go skipping to the top

And the land lubbers lie down below,

            Below, below,

And the land lubbers lie down below.

Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship

And a well-spoken man was he,

“I married me a wife in Salem town,

And tonight she a widow will be.”

Then up spoke the cook of our gallant ship,

And a red hot cook was he,

“I care much more for my kettles and my pots,

Than I do for the bottom of the sea.”

Then up spoke the cabin-boy of our gallant ship,

And a dirty little rat was he,

“There’s nary a soul in Salem town,

Who gives a darn about me.”

Then three times around went our gallant ship,

And three times around went she;

Then three times around went our gallant ship,

And she sank to the bottom of the sea.