Meg, I hope you don't mind my posting the lyrics that Wolfgang found on the Minstrel list. If there should be corrections, let me know.
-Joe Offer-
CAPTAIN JACK AND THE MERMAID
(Lyrics & Music: Meg Davis)
Captain Jack was a young man when he went to sea.
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye.
He was barely a child of twenty and three.
Oh, tell him young ladies, go and tell him for me,
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea.
Well, I loved Captain Jack and his bride I would be.
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye.
We were soon to be wedded my Jackie and me.
Oh, tell him young ladies, go and tell him for me,
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea.
But his ship, it had need of a Captain one day.
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye.
He took charge of the rigging and soon sailed away.
Oh, tell him young ladies, go and tell him for me,
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea.
When three years had passed and his ship had returned.
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye.
I went down to the sea for the man I had earned.
Oh, tell him young ladies, go and tell him for me,
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea.
But my Jacky was not there when I went to see.
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye.
And this was the tale his crew told to me.
Oh, tell him young ladies, go and tell him for me,
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea.
It was almost eight bells and Jack has the watch.
He was finning and scaling the fish he had caught.
When out of the sea there arose such a tune
As he had not heard by the light of the moon.
He looked out on the waters and what saw he there,
But a beautiful maiden with gold in her hair.
She had gowns made of seaweed and a crown on her head.
As he stared at the mermaid she quietly said:
"I have followed your ship now for many a mile.
On days the sea laughed with your smile.
And I'll give you my kingdom, eternally
If you'll marry this mermaid that lives in the sea."
Well Jack was in love with the beautiful girl
And he jumped over the side to the watery swirl.
She then took his arm and she led him away
And we searched all those waters till dawn the next day.
We tolled the bell loud, we tolled the bell long
And the looks on our faces was saddened and drawn,
When out of the sea, Jack, he rose like a King
And this is the message he begged us to bring:
"I have love of a lady who lives on the land
But my life with the mermaid is ever so grand.
Would you go to my lady and ask her for me,
May I marry this mermaid that lives in the sea?"
And that was the story I heard from the crew.
My tears, there were many, my choices were few.
I went down to the sea, the ships bell to ring
And this is the song that I was heard to sing:
[Captain Jack was a young man when he went to sea.
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye.
He was barely a child of twenty and three.
Oh, tell him young ladies, go and tell him for me,
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea.]
(The final verse, denoted with [ ] marks, is the first verse to 'The End of the Tail.")
^^
Source: Pendar the Bard - Click here