The Mermaid
Traditional:
courtesy of www.SailorSongs.com
G C G
Twas Friday morn when we set sail
C D7 G
And we were not far from the land
C G
When the captain, he spied a lovely mermaid
C D7 G
With a comb and a glass in her hand
C G
O the ocean's waves may roll
D7
And the stormy winds will blow
G C G
While we poor sailors go skipping to the top
C D7 G
And the landlubbers lie down below (below, below)
C D7 G
And the landlubbers lie down below
G C G
Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,
C D7 G
And a brave old man was he,
C G
He said, "This fishy mermaid has warned me of our doom:
C D7 G
We shall sink to the bottom of the sea!"CHORUS
G C G
And up spoke the mate of our gallant ship
C D7 G
And a well-spoken man was he
C G
I have me a wife in Salem by the sea
C D7 G
And tonight she a widow will be CHORUS
G C G
And up spoke the cookie of our gallant ship
C D7 G
And a red hot cookie was he
G C G
Saying I care much more for my pots and my pans
C D7 G
Than I do for the bottom of the sea CHORUS
G C G
Then up spake the cabinboy, of our gallant ship
C D7 G
A well spoken lad was he
G C G
There's nary a soul in Salem Town
C D7 G
Who cares a bit for me. CHORUS
G C G
Then three times around went our gallant ship
C D7 G
And three times around went she
G C G
Three times around went our gallant ship
C D7 G
And she sank to the bottom of the sea CHORUS
The author of this website has put a lot of time and effort into gathering the greatest collection of sea shanties for the world to enjoy - There are songs that have been to sung to a job of work at sea for many, many years and collecting them has been a great endeavour. - Roger Chartier has made the effort out of his own interest and the requests that he has gotten to do this work from fellow musicians who wanted a good source of sea shanties to draw on and learn from. He has been told that for this effort he is a remarkable man.
