The Mermaid -- any more verses?

Subject: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From:
Date: 12 Jan 99 - 10:06 PM

I have noted the verses included in the posted version of The Mermaid -- (It begins "Twas Friday morn when we set sail..." Those are the ones MY father taught me. But I wonder if there are still more, e.g. one that might begin "Then up spoke the first mate..."

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From:
Date: 12 Jan 99 - 11:00 PM

Tape deck is on the fritz - but have heard MANY more verses - including "aerobics instructor" "cruise director" "navigator" "gunner" etc.

MMario

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: Bruce O.
Date: 12 Jan 99 - 11:41 PM

There are 14 verses in Child's A text (#289) from a chapbook of about 1765, but Child missed a text that was over a hundred years earlier, "The praise of Saylors here set forth", ZN221 in the broadside ballad index on my website. That has 22 verses.

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: Bruce O.
Date: 14 Jan 99 - 07:22 PM

I've added "The Praise of Sailors" to the Scarce Songs 2 file on my website, so you can compare to "The Mermaid". wwww.erols.com/olsonw

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: SteveF (inactive)
Date: 15 Jan 99 - 08:31 AM

I don't have any new verses for you, just an anecdote from my youth.

"The Mermaid Song" was sung regularly when I attended Scout camp in New Jersey many years ago. Most of the scouts lived in log cabins in the woods, but one unit resided in a large residence built to resemble a ship along side the shore of our lake. Aboard SHIP, as it was unpretentiously named, the routine followed a quasi-nautical regimen.

We all sang "The Mermaid Song" in the mess hall. It was essentially the same version found in the database. We sang it at a brisk pace. When we came to the last verse, however, the guys from SHIP would all rise to their feet, place their caps over their hearts, and solo the last verse in very solemn fashion:

Then three times around went our gallant ship,
And three times around went she
Three times around went our gallant ship
Then she sank to the bottom of the sea,

Then all of us would do the last chorus, "O the ocean waves..." It was quite amusing to visitors.

--SteveF

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: Lighter
Date: 07 Dec 24 - 11:18 AM

Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Ind.) (Oct. 1, 1897), aboard a USN vessel at Hampton Roads, Va.:

"Brooks can sing:

While we jolly sailor boys go climbing up the mast,
And the lazy marines are down below, below, below,
And the lazy marines are down below."

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: Jack Horntip
Date: 27 Apr 25 - 12:29 PM

"'TWAS FRIDAY MORN"
(Tune - 'Twas Friday Morn") (Words by Lt. P. Smith)

'Twas Friday morn, when we took off
In the midst of a dawn marage.
Then the Captain spied some Hickem Bombardiers
All pink and grey camouflage.

CHORUS:
Oh, the B-18's may roar, may roar
For very soon they'll be no more,
'Cause we peashooters are climbing to the sky,
To dive on the Bombers down below, below, below -
To dive on the Bombers down below.

1957. 18th Fighter Bomber Wing Song Book


See here: https://archive.org/details/1957eighteenthfighterbomberwingsongbook/page/n9/mode/1up?q=%22down+below%22

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: The Og
Date: 30 Apr 25 - 10:36 AM

Waiting for MMario... Get that tape deck up and running!

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 25 - 10:49 AM

You'll be waiting a while :

MMario obit - 2018

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: The Og
Date: 30 Apr 25 - 06:18 PM

Oops...! My bad.

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: The Og
Date: 06 May 25 - 12:42 PM

Just to keep the party going...


Next spoke the Steward of our tidy little ship,
And a delegating man was he,
“I’ve a poker game at stake with the dinner serving crew,
And tonight we’ll all big losers be.”

“Ah ha,” said the Massage Therapist from the on-board SPA,
And a strong-handed lady was she.
“I’ve an open slot at six then booked solid up to ten,
But tonight we’re all cancelled seems to me.”

“Just so,” said the Cruise Director as if in a funk,
“I guess this mermaid legend must be true.
But if not I’ve still got slots for Dante’s Tour of Hell,
We’ll be gathering tomorrow at two.

“Alas,” said the Trivia Coordinator, “Say it isn’t so,
I’ve got eight tables scheduled for a match.
Got my prizes and my categories organized at last,
The last thing I want to do is scratch.”

“Too bad,” said the Bartender, polishing a glass,
“Just when this party’s getting hot.
This mermaid scam’s just another left-wing scare,
It’s an underwater, communistic plot.”

“Not so fast,” said the Alcoholics Anonymous Coordinator
    …from the rear,
“That Bartender’d only touting booze,
Join my 12-step process, and let the mermaid be,
You only signed up for a cruise.

“Listen up,” cried the Manicurist, joining in the fray,
“Get a two-for one special that’s so swell,
It’s a couples mani-pedi for just fifty bucks today,
You’ll be lookin’ good in Heaven or in Hell.”?

Subject: RE: The Mermaid -- any more verses?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 08 May 25 - 09:08 PM

This works perfectly ... to the "Gilligan's Island" tune.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Zero connection.