I've never been able to picture the Maid on the Shore as a mermaid because I would think a mermaid would stick to the sea. I think of her as a female land pirate, using herself as a decoy the way other land pirates would use lanterns to lure ships onto rocky coasts. I know there's a better term for that than "land pirate" but I can't remember it.

I do plan on using If I Was a Blackbird, I think it's one of the prettiest "my love left me for the sea" songs.

Thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone. The coffee house is in March, I'll let you know how all the songs went over.