To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=123909
8 messages

Origins: the mermaid death song?

28 Sep 09 - 12:46 AM (#2732894)
Subject: Origins: the mermaid death song?
From: GUEST,w.

the chorus is:

"It's time to go sailing away boys,

Time to go sailing out into the sea,

Its time to go sailing away boys,

Revel your young life while you are still free."

anyone familiar with this? I heard a street performer sing it downtown recently and am ding to know more about it.


29 Sep 09 - 12:53 AM (#2733791)
Subject: RE: Origins: the mermaid death song?
From: quokka

Found the lyrics, not sure of the tune.

Mermaid Death Song
She'll drag you down, into the deep,
Your children will mourn and your lovers will weep.
Pray while you can, sing your last song,
Life as you know it is over and done.
(Chorus)
Her voice is like wine, her song is a play,
she'll tell you the story of your dying day.
Body divine you cant look away,
Her eyes call you to her while hollow and grey.
(Chorus)
Your body will shatter, like a ship on the rocks,
Your soul she will keep inside her treasure box.
Hers you are now, till the end of time,
She'll feast off your lust like a drunk off the vine.
---(Chorus)---
It's time to go sailing away boys,
Time to go sailing out into the sea,
Its time to go sailing away boys,
Revel your young life while you are still free.

Cheers,

Quokka


29 Sep 09 - 10:57 AM (#2734113)
Subject: RE: Origins: the mermaid death song?
From: Mrrzy

Ah, the mermaid sings the death, but doesn't die... lovely song, I was wondering about a song about the death of a mermaid, don't they turn to foam upon the waters?


29 Sep 09 - 10:58 AM (#2734114)
Subject: RE: Origins: the mermaid death song?
From: Mrrzy

Oops, thread creep, sorry.

I too would like to know the origins of this song.


30 Sep 09 - 04:13 AM (#2734775)
Subject: RE: Origins: the mermaid death song?
From: semi-submersible

No connection, of course, to the preposterous Faerie's Aire and Death Waltz? (Do click to enlarge pages: notations make it even funnier. Authorised copies for sale here.)


04 Sep 10 - 08:30 AM (#2979839)
Subject: RE: Origins: the mermaid death song?
From: GUEST,stoney

Skyler Fell performed it on the Accordion Babes Calendar CD 2009 or 2010... my son transcribed it. Not sure how to get it to you, or if ur still interested. It's playable on a 2-row diatonic, which is nice.


27 Oct 10 - 07:58 PM (#3017313)
Subject: RE: Origins: the mermaid death song?
From: Max

Here's a video of, I think, Skyler Fell in The Hobo Gobbelins doing the number. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSySVtMauZo


03 Jun 12 - 11:07 PM (#3358992)
Subject: RE: Origins: the mermaid death song?
From: GUEST

The song was written by Carly, Raven and Rio (possible collaboration with others?) during the summer SPAZ collective Dream Machine tour with Circo Mutante tour in 2005. Carly wrote and played the accordion part, the lyrics were collectively written. The song was passed around between circles of friends, and was covered by Hobo Goblins.

http://www.spaz.org/index.php/gallery/ontheroad/dream-machine-tour-05/IMG_8793.jpg.html?q=gallery