Hello, Julia. Thanks for the poem.

Years ago, the Kingston Trio recorded a song called "Blow Ye Winds of Morning," and you can find it on YouTube. It's an easy tune with simple chords. It occurred to me that these lyrics could be fit to that tune with some adjustment, so I worked it out. Here are the new lyrics.

I have put ~ in a syllable that uses two or more notes.

It's not easy to tell when the captain is talking and when the merman is talking, so use different accents for each. Don't be afraid to ham it up.   

1. 'Twas on the fourth of Januar
down in the southern seas
Our ship lay awhile
near a big coral isle
a-waiting for a bre~eze
The captain he was down below and sailors all about
and then - what now? - beneath our bow
a jolly great voice piped o~ut, singing
Blow ye winds, heave ho, heave h~o -- blow ye winds, heave ho
Clear way the morning dew and blow heave ho.

2."Man overboard!," the watch cried out,
And forward we did go.
Our captain's to the starboard side
to gaze on the drink belo~w.
And there we saw on the anchor chain a jolly old merMAN
His hair was blue, and his eyes was green,
and this is what he sang, singing
Blow ye winds, heave ho, heave h~o -- blow ye winds, heave ho
Clear way the morning dew and blow heave ho.

3."Ahoy there" said our captain bold;
"What cheer, messmate", cried he.
"You look so queer- How came you here,
a-living in the deep blue se~a?"
I see the woe in the look of your face
and your speech is English true
Come tell me, man, as fast as you can
just what can I do for yo~u." singing
Blow ye winds, heave ho, heave h~o -- blow ye winds, heave ho
Clear way the morning dew and blow heave ho.

4. "Some years ago where the big ships go,
I swept overboard in a gale.
And down below where the seaweeds grow,
I met a pretty maid with a tai~l.
She saved my life and became my wife,
and my legs changed instantlee.
So forever and a day, it's happy I will stay,
at the bottom of the deep blue sea, singing
Blow ye winds, heave ho, heave h~o -- blow ye winds, heave ho
Clear way the morning dew and blow heave ho.

5. "But your anchor's dropped before my house,
and you've blocked my only door.
And my wife can't get out for to shop and rove about,
and the children me implo~re
'Twould break your heart to hear them cry,
and the row they'll have with me!
I was out last night to a big fish-fight,
and I didn't get home till thre~e, singing
Blow ye winds, heave ho, heave h~o -- blow ye winds, heave ho
Clear way the morning dew and blow heave ho.

6. The Captain smiled and turned to the mate
"All hands on deck" cried he.
"Our anchor we shall weigh, I say,
and your wife and chicks set fre~e."
With a grateful grin he waved a fin
and he turned him merrily,
with a mighty flail of his big blue tail,
he wiggled down to the se~a, singing
Blow ye winds, heave ho, heave h~o -- blow ye winds, heave ho
Clear way the morning dew and blow heave ho.