There was a young sailor who looked through the glass
Spied a fair mermaid with scales on her
Island where seagulls fly over their nests
She combed the long hair that hung over her
Shoulders and caused her to tickle and itch
The sailor cried out "There's a beautiful
Mermaid a-sitting out there on the rocks!"
The crew came around a-grabbing their
Glasses and crowded four deep to the rail
All eager to share in this fine piece of
News which the captain soon heard from the watch
He tied down the wheel and he reached for his
Crackers and cheese which he kept near the door
In case he might someday encounter a
Mermaid, he knew he must use all his wits
Crying "Throw out a line, we'll lasso her
Flippers, and then we will certainly find
If mermaids are better before or "Be
Brave my good fellows" the captain then said
"With fortune we'll break through her mermaiden-"
Heading to starboard they tacked with dispatch
Caught that fair mermaid just under her
Elbows and hustled her down below decks
Each took a turn at her feminine
Setting her free at the end of the farce
She splashed in the waves landing flat on her
After a while one man noticed some scabs
Soon they broke out with the pox and the
Scratching with fury, cursing with spleen
This song may be dull but it's certainly clean