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Subject: SONGS WITH MERMAIDS IN From: The Sandman Date: 02 Jul 19 - 01:30 AM Someone has contacted me to give them a list of songs that mention mermaids, titles appreciated |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Acorn4 Date: 02 Jul 19 - 04:14 AM "No Mermaid" -Sinead Lohan Rather good song this. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: NO MERMAID (Sinéad Lohan) From: The Sandman Date: 02 Jul 19 - 04:21 AM No Mermaid Sinéad Lohan
We went down to the edge of the water
But I am no mermaid
We were swinging from the center of the ceiling
And I am no mermaid
We went down to the edge of the water
But I am no mermaid |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST,matt milton Date: 02 Jul 19 - 04:21 AM 'Let the Mermaids flirt with me' by Mississippi John Hurt. Here's my version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6DGBdBjG_4 Here's Hurt's (much better obviously): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRnT-zsLJkk 'The Mermaid' from the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs https://mainlynorfolk.info/martin.carthy/songs/mermaid.html |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel Date: 02 Jul 19 - 04:45 AM Rawtenstall Annual Fair? |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST,Derrick Date: 02 Jul 19 - 05:02 AM The tale of the Nancy Lee (The ship that got shipwrecked at sea) Down in the diving bell My father was the keeper of the Eddystone Light The Mermaid of Zennor |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mrrzy Date: 02 Jul 19 - 04:40 PM Rule, Brittania, Brittania rules the waves And Britons never never never shall be Married to a mermaid at the bottom of the deep blue sea. Cannot recall title. It may have the word Equinoctial in it. But I know all the words. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mrrzy Date: 02 Jul 19 - 04:42 PM The one with the cook and everyone bemoaning the fate the mermaid gave them. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: John C. Bunnell Date: 02 Jul 19 - 07:04 PM I see "Eddystone Light" has been mentioned already, but not the Shel Silverstein poem/lyric "The Mermaid". Both of these are in the DigiTrad, although the Silverstein given appears to be transcribed from a live version that I don't think I know -- the two recordings I'm familiar with are by way of Glenn Yarbrough and Great Big Sea, and those two and the DigiTrad version differ in the ways that live and studio performances generally do. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: rich-joy Date: 02 Jul 19 - 07:49 PM Die Lorelei - sung here by Mireille Mathieu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-F3prcPC78 I recall my Mum used to sing this in my childhood, and just hearing it again makes me a tad teary! Cheers! R-J an English translation: I cannot determine the meaning Of sorrow that fills my breast: A fable of old, through it streaming, Allows my mind no rest. The air is cool in the gloaming And gently flows the Rhine. The crest of the mountain is gleaming In fading rays of sunshine. The loveliest maiden is sitting Up there, so wondrously fair; Her golden jewelry is glist'ning; She combs her golden hair. She combs with a gilded comb, preening, And sings a song, passing time. It has a most wondrous, appealing And pow'rful melodic rhyme. The boatman aboard his small skiff, - Enraptured with a wild ache, Has no eye for the jagged cliff, - His thoughts on the heights fear forsake. I think that the waves will devour Both boat and man, by and by, And that, with her dulcet-voiced power Was done by the Lorelei. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: beardedbruce Date: 02 Jul 19 - 07:59 PM Sonnet 02/4/2019 Lust in the Littoral Realm MCCXLIV I dream of bright–eyed mermaid in the light Of moon and stars. Can I find even one Who might give me her smile? Might she delight In having hold of heart? Has dream begun That leads to my heart’s healing? Should I think I might have a chance to saline kisses share? I know that I might some affection drink From mermaid’s lips, if I would only dare. I long to hold this mermaid, and now try To find hope for heart’s desire, for a while. Her love may kill me, but I know that I Will die with less regret, and with a smile. Just let me drown in mermaid’s loving arms, That I might breathe my last from her sweet charms. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: kendall Date: 02 Jul 19 - 08:12 PM The one I want starts, "There was a young sailor who looked through the glass (Telescope) spied a young mermaid sitting there on her island where seagulls fly over her.... |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: rich-joy Date: 02 Jul 19 - 08:13 PM I'd never heard Lonnie Donegan's song about LORELEI (The Mermaid) until now, LoL! :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSDe5z7DeFs |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MINNIE THE MERMAID From: Norval Date: 02 Jul 19 - 10:41 PM MINNIE THE MERMAID Music and Lyrics by: Bud De Sylva (1923) The other night I dreamed that I was down at the bottom of the sea, I met a Mermaid fair, who had a cottage there. Her name was Minnie and she tumbled for me, She had the tail of a fish for a train, But just the same, she could sure entertain. Chorus: Oh what a time I had with Minnie the Mermaid, Down at the bottom of the sea, I forgot my troubles, There amongst the bubbles, Gee, but she was aw'fully good to me. And every night when the star fish came out, I'd hug and kiss her so, oh, Oh, what a time I had with Minnie the mermaid, Down in her seaweed bungalow. I can't forget those happy days, way down at the bottom of the sea, I'm really strong for her, and now I long for her. And I'm inclined to think she's longing for me, So every night I'm in bed before nine, Hoping I'll dream of that mermaid of mine. Typed from the original sheet music. NTS |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Phil Cooper Date: 02 Jul 19 - 11:54 PM Bob Pegg wrote a song called The Mermaid on his The Last Wolf recording. Here's a youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6o7L0Hhq-4 |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Big Al Whittle Date: 03 Jul 19 - 01:41 AM Les Noden, down in Brixham, wrote a very good song called Mermaids - about the home lives of working fisherfolk. He was hoping the late Bill Caddick and Barrie Roberts were going to publish it in Songsmith magazine. I lost contact with Barrie for a few years - although I went see him a few months before he died. I don't know if Bill and Barrie ever got round to it. I know they'd said to Les they wanted to. Ofcourse theres Ralph McTell's song The Mermaid and the Seagull https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=The+mermaid+and+the+seagull+Ralph+Mctell#id=2&vid=5399ebd4469119cb39b |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Dave Hanson Date: 03 Jul 19 - 02:31 AM What about ' The Mermaid ' recorded by the Clancy Brothers ? Dave H |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST,RA Date: 03 Jul 19 - 03:24 AM 'Clerk Colvill' (Child #42) |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST Date: 03 Jul 19 - 09:25 AM Dave, that's the one with the cook et al. in it? |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: NOMADMan Date: 03 Jul 19 - 09:53 AM Meg Davis - "Captain Jack and the Mermaid" - a nice fantasy/love story. Captain Jack and the Mermaid John Mazza (NOMADMan) |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST Date: 03 Jul 19 - 10:12 AM Traditional versions are the ones that interest me Dick. Try the beautiful Irish Language one, 'An Mhaigdean Mhara' (The Sea Maiden) about a man who marries a mermaid and settles down with her - we recorded a story version of this from Kerry Traveller, Mikeen McCarthy, set in his home locality - he called it 'The Mermaid of Filemore' Child Ballad, 'Clerk Colvil' tells the story of a fresh-water mermaid who kills her would-be lover with a poisoned kiss 'Maid on the Shore' (based on the Broomfield Hill' story) has the would be seduced woman singing the captain and ship's crew to sleep, robbing them of all their gear and escaping 'virgo intacta', giving them the wo fingers as she goes Bert Lloyd used to sing one of the best versions of The Mermaid (Child 289) I ever heard, with a superb tune - beats the rollicking one Miss Pringle bashed out on the school piano any day Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST,guest Date: 03 Jul 19 - 12:45 PM Mermaid of Zennor sung by Jim Causley |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST,Julia L Date: 03 Jul 19 - 01:24 PM WE found a song about a Mer MAN called Blow ye winds Aye-O in the archive of songs from Maine- recorded on our CD "Bound Away" http://www.castlebay.net/ |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mrrzy Date: 03 Jul 19 - 02:28 PM The anchor has blocked my house |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Dave Hanson Date: 03 Jul 19 - 03:42 PM Yeah the one with the cook etc. Up stepped the cook of our gallant ship, And a crazy ould butcher was he. Dave H |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Murpholly Date: 03 Jul 19 - 04:15 PM Try One Friday morn when we set sail And our ship not far from the land The Cook The Cabin Boy The Captain etc. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Date: 03 Jul 19 - 05:44 PM Songs of the People has a song called Polly Primrose, where a man's girlfriend drowns and he dreams she's been turned into a mermaid. It's an modified (and shifted to Ireland) version of a song called I Wish I Was A Fish; Or Sweet Polly Primrose by G.W.Hunt. In the original the last 2 verses are: I had a dream last night that I Was down below the wave, And there I saw my Polly In a gorgeous coral cave; She'd changed into a mermaid, And she'd such a splendid tail, She was doing double shuffles, In conjunction with a whale. While she's a sportive mermaid, I'm so wretched here above So I think I'll take a plunge and be A merman with my love; But the precise locality, I don't exactly know, Where I may find my Polly So perhaps I'd best not go. Mick |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST,Gallus Moll Date: 03 Jul 19 - 07:18 PM The Silkie of Sule Skerry 'I am a man, upon the land - I am a silkie, in the sea.....' it is a tragic tale, haunting tune. He has married a mortal woman, had with her a son - but predicts his own death...... |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Big Al Whittle Date: 03 Jul 19 - 07:36 PM I never really got that song. I suppose that it gets lonely up there - Aly Blain playing his fiddle, the bloke in the spec savers advert shaving his dog, etc. Even so...having it off with a seal... |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mrrzy Date: 03 Jul 19 - 09:54 PM Silkies are not mermaids. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: rich-joy Date: 03 Jul 19 - 10:00 PM I fell in love in the 80s with a song by the musical collaborators known as "This Mortal Coil". It was called "Song to The Siren" and it was sung brilliantly by Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWKJ2FUiAQ Today I found that this song was actually written by Tim Buckley! (This clip includes his lyrics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMTEtDBHGY4 BOTH are great versions! Hope you enjoy them too! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Steve Shaw Date: 03 Jul 19 - 10:08 PM Gosh, I'd have thought that the obvious song would've been mentioned by now! It's An Mhaighdean Mhara, beautifully rendered by Altan on the album Island Angel (made shortly after the death of Frankie Kennedy, a tragedy of dreadful proportions). Not only is it a wonderful song, it's also a beautiful slow air, one which I think I learned from a Chieftains album many moons ago.... |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Joe_F Date: 03 Jul 19 - 10:11 PM Is the Lorelei really a mermaid? I don't know much German, but it seems to me that "Die schoenste Jungfrau" just means "The most beautiful young woman". |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: rich-joy Date: 03 Jul 19 - 11:21 PM Joe F, Mr Google has plenty to say on the subject (and of Mermaids, Sirens, Water Sprites etc, in general) and that fount of knowledge, WIKI, says : "Lorelei is a feminine water spirit, similar to a siren or mermaid, said to send sailors to their death, by luring them near cliffs with her beautiful singing voice." Close enough for me. Of course, there is that theory that sailors claiming to see Mermaids were probably seeing Dugongs or Manatees (aka sea cows). Anyone have any songs about these mammals??? R-J |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST Date: 04 Jul 19 - 03:15 AM "Is the Lorelei really a mermaid? " Always thought she was a siren "Silkies are not mermaids" Technically that is true, but they are part of the whole bundle of Folklore depicting sea creatures in hunan form and the constantly cross over in the tales The Silkie story/song of a sea creature marrying and having children by a human man/woman are so similar as not to be a coincidence and both stretch back into ancient International mythology From Funk and Wagnall's Standard Dictionary of Folklore Mermaid A supernatural sea-dwelling female of general European maritime folklore: German Meerfrau, Danish maremind, Cheremissian wut-ian iider. (See HAVMAND, the Estonian NAKK, Finnish NAKKI.) The Irish mermaid, murdúac, is Anglicized to merrow. The Morgans, or sea-women, off the coast of Brittany are considered beautiful, siren-like, and dangerous to men. Mermaids are usually depicted as having the head and body of a woman to the waist, and a tapering fish body and tail instead of legs. A carving on Pucé Church in Gironde, France, however, shows a young mermaid with lower body divided and two tapering tails instead of legs. They live in an undersea world of splendor and riches, but have been known to assume human form and come ashore to markets and fairs. They often lure mariners to their destruction, and are said to gather the souls of the drowned and cage them in their domain. Those who seek fact underlying every belief have offered the manatee or the dugong, warm-blooded sea mammals, as the original for the mermaid, relying on analogy more than on sailors’ ability to differentiate between a sea- cow and a fish-woman. Concerning the origin of mermaids, the Irish say they are old pagan women transformed to mermaid shape and banished off the earth by St. Patrick. A Livonian folktale says they are Pharaoh’s children drowned in the Red Sea (B81.1). For origin of the mermaid concept S. Baring-Gould suggests (Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, London, 1884) the various semi-fish gods and goddesses of the early religions, e.g. the Chaldean Oannes and the Philistine Dagon, especially when associated with the sun-god concept, as Oannes who appeared on earth every day and plunged into the sea every night. Atargatis (Deiceto, Dea Syria) too is sometimes depicted with semi-fish body. For association of the mermaid with the ancient sea goddess and love goddess, Marian, identified by the Greeks with Aphrodite, born of the sea, and the symbolism of the comb and the mirror, see Robert Graves, The White Goddess, New York, 1948, pp. 327- 328; for explanation of the fish tail in statues of Atargatis-Derceto, p. 335. Medieval belief in the mermaid, however, was wide¬spread and substantiated. There is a Netherlands story reported by Baring-Gould (p. 509) that in 1430 when the dikes near Edam broke in a storm, some young girls in a boat found a mermaid floundering in shallow, muddy water. They got her into the boat, took her home, dressed her in women’s clothes; she could weave and spin with extraordinary skill, but never learned to speak. Old Henry Hudson is said to have seen one near Nova Zembla on his arctic explorations. In 1560 west of Ceylon some fishermen caught several in a net, which were taken ashore and dissected with great interest by a learned physician. He reported that internally and externally they were constructed like human beings. It is generally thought unlucky to see a mermaid; the sight of one presages storm or disaster as witness Child’s ballad The Mermaid, in which one of a ship’s crew sighted a mermaid sitting on a rock with comb and mirror in her hand. Very shortly the ship was lost in a raging storm and for want of a life¬boat all hands were drowned. Mermaids also often lead people astray. Getting hold of the cap or belt of a mermaid gives one power over her. The marriage of a mortal man to a mermaid is common in folktale and folk belief; descendants of such a union are still living in Machaire, Ireland. Such people are usually under some kind of a curse; either they cannot sleep at night for the haunting sound of the sea in their ears, or they are doomed not to speak. The heroine of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen falls in love with a beautiful prince on a passing ship, voluntarily assumes human shape in order to gain an immortal soul and be near him forever, is doomed never to speak, attends the prince constantly, but when he marries a human princess her heart breaks. She becomes an elemental light being, with a chance at immortality. Merman The male counterpart of the mermaid in general European and Near Eastern folklore. Tv Arabian Nights refer to the merman both as human anc as fish. “The Tale of Abdullah and Abdullah” in the Arabian Nights is the story of the poor fisherman named Abdullah and his benefactor, the merman named Abdullah. Al-Kazwini refers to a Syrian story of a merman married to a human wife, whose son knew both tie language of the earth and sea. Probably the mcs familiar merman motif of folktale and ballad is the merman forsaken by his human wife, widów popularized by Matthew Arnold’s poem, The Forsaken Merman. Various ramifications of this motif include the prohibition against the human wife's overstaying he' visit home, or even seeing her old home or staying in church for the benediction which inevitably prevents her returning to her merman husband. See Havmand; Nakk; Nakki; nix. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Richard Mellish Date: 04 Jul 19 - 03:17 AM I have one that I got from David Cornell. I don't have time today but I'll try to dig out my recording of him and/or post the words. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Big Al Whittle Date: 04 Jul 19 - 03:28 AM Oh well ! If we're going to have mermen, we could have Ethel singing Theres no business like Showbusiness... |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: rich-joy Date: 04 Jul 19 - 07:38 PM LoL Big Al :) Indeed!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kdggcQhysQ R-J PS Seems I'm not alone in considering Mermaids and Sirens to be of a similar ilk : https://knowledgenuts.com/2014/02/05/the-difference-between-mermaids-and-sirens/ My Bad. But the sideways research is what helps Mudcat to often be so interesting!! |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mrrzy Date: 05 Jul 19 - 02:11 PM Sirens (Lorelei included) are mermaids. Anybody read The Water Babies? Sabrina fair, listen where thou art sitting under the glassy green translucent wave... |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST Date: 06 Jul 19 - 04:56 PM From Mainly Norfolk; Johnny Doughty sings The Mermaid One Friday morn when we set sail. And our ship was nigh on the land,. We there did espy a fair mermaid. With a comb and glass in her hand. Chorus While the raging seas did roar And the stormy winds they did blow, And we jolly sailor boys was up, up aloft And the landlubbers lying down below, below, below, And the landlubbers lying down below. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE MERMAID OF ONTARIO (Shel Silverstein) From: GUEST,Pitheris Date: 07 Jul 19 - 02:32 PM The Mermaid of Ontario Shel Silverstein Oh, the [C] Mermaid [G7] of On-[C]-tario Had [G7] long green stringy [C] hair-e-o And a [G7] seaweed gown to [C] wear-e-o But she [G7] had no one to [C] marry-o Oh, the [C] Mermaid [G7] of On-[C]-tario Loved a [G7] big mouth bass named [C] Larry-o Who [G7] lived 'neath Lake St. [C] Claire-o Under-[G7]-neath the St. Claire [C] ferry-o Oh, the [C] Mermaid [G7] of On-[C]-tario Sent a [G7] seagull emis-[C]-sary-o To [G7] ask that big bass [C] Larry-o If [G7] he'd consent to [C] marry-o Oh [C] no, no, no [G7] said [C] Larry-o My [G7] life I will not [C] share-e-o I'd [G7] rather play soli-[C]-tarie-e-o And sit a-[G7]-round in my under-[C]-wear-e-o And read [G7] books from the fish li-[C]-brary-o And [C] you're so [G7] ordi-[C]-nary-o And [G7] I'm extra ordi-[C]-nary-e-o And I [G7] dress so debon-[C]-air-e-o And I have a [G7] fine vocabu-[C]-lary-o Cause I [G7] memorized the fishes' diction-[C]-ary-o And be-[C]-fore I'd marry [G7] you, I'd [C] marry-o A [G7] Guernsey cow from the [C] dairy-o Or [G7] eat a poison [C] berry-o And wind [G7] up with fishes' dysen-[C]-tery-o The poor [C] Mermaid [G7] of On-[C]-tario It was [G7] more than she could [C] bear-e-o So she [G7] cried for a day then [C] swam away With a [G7] yuppie little guppie named [C] Gary-o Now [C] they're a [G7] happy [C] pair-e-o Cause [G7] he's a million-[C]-aire-e-o On his [G7] yacht 'neath Lake St. [C] Claire-e-o They [G7] cuddle in a cozy [C] chair-e-o And [G7] listen to his underwater [C] stereo And that [C] big mouth bass [G7] named [C] Larry-o [G7] Married a cow from the [C] dairy-o She [G7] fed him a poison [C] berry-o And he [G7] wound up in the fishes' ceme-[C]-tery-o And [G7] that's the whole sce-[C]-nario |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Sirens in From: John C. Bunnell Date: 08 Jul 19 - 03:31 AM Oh, well, if we're going to include sirens in the mix, then we clearly need to cite this Vixy and Tony number: YouTube: Siren Song (live) Lyrics: Siren Song A snippet: "The girls I meet all think it's glamorous Making guys fall at your feet It's not pretty at all when the amorous fall Begins twenty floors up from the street Oh and don't even mention Odysseus To a hardworking singer like me Now how would you feel if some out-of-town jerk Tried to sneak in your concert for free?" |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST,henryp Date: 08 Jul 19 - 09:27 AM Subject: Lyr Add: THE DIVING BELL / DOWN IN A DIVING BELL From: Jim Dixon Date: 07 Mar 04 - 04:59 PM From the sheet music images at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music: THE DIVING BELL / DOWN IN A DIVING BELL (Alfred Lee, 1870) 1. Once I was a sailor bold. some tales to you I'll tell Of all the wonders I have seen when in a diving bell. While on the ocean, messmates for money challeng'd me I'd not the pluck to go and see the mermaids in the sea. CHORUS: Down in a diving bell at the bottom of the sea, That's a pretty place the fishy sights to see. Down in a diving bell at the bottom of the sea, Nice little mermaids, pretty little mermaids, all come courting me. 2. When I was only halfway down, mermaids came to me. They sang and danc'd to welcome me, far down in the sea. They came in hundreds to shake hands. So many turn'd me pale, For a very funny thing that all mermaids should shake hands with their tail. 3. When I reach'd the bottom, there I saw a thing to make me laugh. They'd made a clothesline out of the Atlantic Telegraph. And old mermaids disclos'd to me with salt tears in their eyes, Although 'twas under water, 'twas very bad weather to day. (sic; should be "to dry"?) 4. I caught a pretty mermaid. To kiss her was my wish, But like an eel she slipp'd away, for you can't hold onto fish. Her mother brought her back again and whisper'd unto me That if I like down there I might get married in the sea. 5. We married were at a funny church that was built of oyster shells. The parson wore a bathing gown. A codfish rang the bells. I'm married now and happy. You girls are in the shade. You can't compare to mine so fair altho' she's a mermaid. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE MERMAID SONG (Cab Calloway) From: Jim Dixon Date: 08 Jul 19 - 10:42 AM You can hear this recording at The Internet Archive THE MERMAID SONG (Keller) As recorded by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, 1941. I went down to the sea one day To see the fish jump around and play, Watch the mermaids swing and sway To the music of the sea. I went down to the sea one day To see the sun drive the clouds away, Watch the sailboats rock and roll To the music of the sea. And I met a lovely maiden on that Mayday afternoon. She promised she would wed me on a summer day next June. But it was only a dream that day. Her old man Neptune came up to say: “Flap your fins and swim away. You belong back in the sea.” |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE MERMAID (Frankie Laine) From: Jim Dixon Date: 08 Jul 19 - 11:02 PM You can hear this recording at the Internet Archive. THE MERMAID Words and music by Fletcher Peck As recorded by Frankie Laine, 1952. (Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!) I once went fishin’ And I caught a mermaid. Told me that she was Neptune's daughter. I clipped her pop for a buck and a quarter. Sold ‘im a pen for writing under— Water. (Water!) (Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!) So I told her pappy That we could be happy. Pappy said: “Listen here, you bounder. You cannot keep ‘er just ‘cause you found ‘er. She is engaged to a very wealthy— Flounder.” (Flounder!) (Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!) Begged her to marry. She didn’t tarry. I slipped the ring upon her flipper. We sailed away on a Yankee clipper. Soon we were blessed with an eight-pound bouncing— Kipper. (Kipper!) (Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!) Thought her a shy one, But she was a sly one. First thing I knew, she took to swearing, Slippin’ around and never caring. Caught her with ev’ry Tom and Dick and— Herring. (Herring!) (Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!) She just got slier, And, oh, what a liar! Spent all my loot on gin and splurgin’, Lied to my face without no urgin’, ‘Specially when she said she was a— Sturgeon. (Sturgeon!) So I learned my lesson, (my lesson!) And now I’m confessin’ (confessin’!) I’ll never miss that mermaid’s squawkin’. You know they ain’t no good for walkin’. Who needs the half that’s always busy— Talkin’? (Talkin’!) Ship ahoy! (Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!) |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Tattie Bogle Date: 09 Jul 19 - 09:00 AM From the singing of Bob Roberts, just one of the verses in "Stormy Weather, boys": Up jumped a mermaid, covered in slime, We took 'er down the fo'c'sle and had a good time. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mrrzy Date: 09 Jul 19 - 11:33 AM Isn't there also a song about not being able to diddle the mermaid because she was all fishy below the waist? |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: John C. Bunnell Date: 09 Jul 19 - 06:00 PM That's the first Silverstein lyric : "...she was just my taste right down to the waist But the rest of her was fi-ish, the rest of her was fish". |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mrrzy Date: 10 Jul 19 - 10:06 PM Love Shel Silverstein. Thanks. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST Date: 10 Jul 19 - 11:32 PM The Merman (Wolfe Tones) mentions the mermaid that saved him and became his wife. |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mrrzy Date: 12 Jul 19 - 09:52 AM Isn't she the one stuck in the house because of the anchor? |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Mrrzy Date: 14 Jul 19 - 11:36 PM Man and that was my Lyr Add thread. Anyway and maybe this is thread creep but I didn't know this https://lithub.com/dear-internet-the-little-mermaid-also-happens-to-be-queer-allegory/ |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GUEST,henryp Date: 15 Jul 19 - 04:40 AM "Isn't there also a song about not being able to diddle the mermaid because she was all fishy below the waist?" "Oh, roll up, roll up, come and see the mermaid, See the lovely lady, half a woman, half a fish." In went the lads, to see it were no swank, And little Tommy Higgins put some whisky in the tank. Oh, she got frisky, swimming in the whisky, And when she come up for air, She bowed to the audience, gave her tail a swish, Her tail it came off and she really looked delish, She said "What do you fancy lads, a bit of meat, or fish?" At the Rawtenstall Annual Fair. Written by the prolific Music Hall team of Weston & Lee, who also gave us such timeless gems as "The Body In The Bag" and "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm". |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: GeoffLawes Date: 15 Jul 19 - 04:44 AM https://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Keith-Summers-Collection/025M-C1002X0079XX-0300V0 Down in the Diving Bell, Charlie Bate, 1919-1977 ,Suffolk |
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Subject: RE: Songs with Mermaids in From: Anne Lister Date: 15 Jul 19 - 07:48 AM My song "The Fisherman" is about a mermaid who falls in love with a fisherman because of his singing. It's the other way around from most mermaid songs because he is, of course, a Welshman and therefore can sing most beautifully. The song is based on a traditional story so it's bound to be absolutely true. |
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