Mermaid (Rule Brittannia)

This version sourced from The Mangy Mongol songbook, page 68, AS XLIII.

Lyrics

Oh 'twas in the broad Atlantic, mid the equinoctial gale
That a young fellow fell overboard among the sharks and whales
And down he went as a streak of light, so quickly down went he
Until he came to a merm-i-ed at the bottom of the deep blue sea.

Singing Rule Britannia,

Britannia rules the waves,

And Britons never, never, never shall be,

Marr-i-ed to a merm-i-ed

At the bottom of the deep blue sea.

She raised herself on her beautiful tail and gave him her soft wet hand
"I've long ben waiting for you my dear so welcome to my land
Now go back to your messmates and tell them all from me
That you're marr-i-ed to a merm-i-ed at the bottom of the deep blue sea.

CHORUS

We sent a boat to look for him expecting to find his corpse,
When up he came with a bang and a shout and a voice sepulchrally hoarse
My comrades and my messmates oh don't you cry for me
For I'm marr-i-ed to a merm-i-ed at the bottom of the deep blue sea

CHORUS

In my chest you'll find my half year's wage wrapped round with a lock of hair
With this locket from my neck, to my poor young wife I bid you safely bear
Take my carte de visite to my grandmother, tell her "Don't you weep for me"
For I'm marr-i-ed to a merm-i-ed at the bottom of the deep blue sea.

CHORUS

The anchor was weighed and the sails unfurled and the ship was sailing free
When up we went to our cap-i-tan and the tale we told to he
The captain he went to the old ship's side and out loud bellowed he
"Be as happy as you can, with your wife, young man,
At the bottom of the deep blue sea."

CHORUS