From a broadside at the Bodleian Library: 2806 c.13(249).


THE MERMAID

It was on board of the Lioness
And not very far from land
That we did spy a fair mermaid
With a comb and a glass in her hand.

CHORUS: For the raging seas do roar, roar, roar
And the stormy winds do blow
While our poor sailors mount to the top
And the landsmen do lie down below.

Out speaks the first mermaid
With a comb and glass in her hand:
“Spy round, spy round, my jolly jack tars,
For you’ll never, never see dry land.”

Out speaks the second mermaid
With a ladle in her hand:
“Sup round, sup round, my jolly jack tars,
For you’ll never, never see dry land.”

Out speaks the third mermaid
With a bottle in her hand:
“Drink round, drink round, my jolly jack tars,
For you’ll never, never see dry land.”

Out speaks the captain’s eldest son,
And a clever little fellow was he:
“I have a wife in fair London town
And this night a widow she shall be.”

Out speaks the captain’s youngest son,
And a clever little fellow was he:
“I have a wife in fair Dublin town
And this night a widow she shall be.”

Then out speaks the captain of our gallant ship
And a sorrowful man was he:
“I have a wife in fair Glasgow town,
And this night a widow she shall be.”

Then out speaks the greasy cook,
And a very greasy cook was he:
“I am more afraid of my pots and my pans
Than you are for your wives all three.”

It’s three times round went our gallant ship,
And it’s three times round went she.
Three times round went the bold Lioness,
And she sunk to the bottom of the sea.