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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This innocuously titled sea shanty (Ballad) - The Mermaid, dates from the mid-16-hundreds; probably even earlier. Perhaps Francis Drake heard it sung, but he may just have beaten them to it! (Did he or any of his crews see any mermaids on their wide-ranging travels, we wonder?!) 

Our researches have uncovered the fact that shanty was also known under the titles: Waves on the Sea and The Wrecked Ship. Although the words are different in each of the versions we have seen (heard) they all carried the same message: They Clearly demonstrated that the sight of a mermaid was a portent of doom, a shipwreck.

The mermaid character (half woman, half fish) became a lethal seductress who charmed seamen (who may not have held or even seen a woman for months - or even years) through sweet music! The seamen naturally responded to arguably the most powerful and potent biological force in the world (Universe?). The myth goes that the mermaid had a contrary nature: she was 'sad and and heavy' in fair weather; and 'glad and merry' in tempest. In fact the creatures were most probably dolphins or manatees, but the sailors were ready to perceive new marvels (particularly attractive women) when so far from home and safety.

Voyaging was a very stressful and lonely business for sailors throughout the ages. And our early adventurers, straying beyond home waters, were susceptible to seeing strange creatures of the deep (hallucinations?). The literate classes (a small minority) enjoyed reading the classical stories such as Homer's Odyssey, and Apollonius' Jason and his Argonauts in their quest for The Golden Fleece. (You haven't read these wonderful stories? Oh you really must; they are marvellous. In truth they're 'out of this world'!). The stories have a wealth of giants, pygmies, savages and Amazons; and particularly sirens and witches who preyed on men's desires. The illiterate ordinary seamen relied on word of mouth interpretations, which left them very impressionable!

In fact not only these old legends but even historical observations encouraged such beliefs. For example, Christopher Columbus reported that he saw three mermaids on his first voyage to the Americas, on 4 January 1493! 

Have you ever seen one? We must be vigilant during our next voyage, and keep a clear head on our watch! 

But enough of this technical chat. We hope you enjoy our MusicSmiles arrangement of this wonderful sea shanty, and sing along lustily to the ancient tune.

The Mermaid¹
(3 bar intro)

Solo: 'Twas a Friday morn when we set sail
And our ship not far from land,
We there did espy a fair pretty maid,
With a comb and a glass in her hand, 
Her hand, her hand,
With a comb and a glass in her hand.

Chorus: While the raging seas do roar,
And the stormy winds do blow,
And we jolly sailor boys were skipping up aloft,
And the land lubbers lying down below, below, below,
And the land lubbers lying down below.
(3 bar interlude)

Solo: Then up spoke the Captain
Of our gallant ship,
And a fine old man was he.
"I have married a wife in fair London  town,
But tonight she a widow will be,
Will be, will be.
But tonight she a widow will be."

Chorus: While the raging seas do roar,
And the stormy winds do blow,
And we jolly sailor boys were skipping up aloft,
And the land lubbers lying down below, below, below,
And the land lubbers lying down below.
(3 bar interlude)

Solo: And then up spoke the little cabin boy,
And a bright-eyed boy was he.
"I've a father and mother in fair Plymouth town,
And this night they will weep for me,
For me, for me,
And this night they will weep for me."

Chorus: While the raging seas do roar,
And the stormy winds do blow,
And we jolly sailor boys were skipping up aloft,
And the land lubbers lying down below, below, below,
And the land lubbers lying down below.
(3 bar interlude)

Solo: Then three times 'round spun our gallant ship,
And three times 'round spun she.
And the third time 'round they all went down,
As she sank to the bottom of the sea,
The sea, the sea,
As she sank to the bottom of the sea.

Chorus: While the raging seas do roar,
And the stormy winds do blow,
And we jolly sailor boys were skipping up aloft,
And the land lubbers lying down below, below, below,
And the land lubbers lying down below.
(Disappearing postlude. Can you hear the ship, the little cabin boy and the captain going down to the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea?)

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Footnote 1.  We have come across two additional verses to this shanty and have included them here in case you would like to sing them:

This is the third verse and chorus in one version:
Solo: Then up spoke the Cook of our gallant ship,
And a greasy old Cook was he;
"I care more for my kettles and my pots,
Than I do for the roaring of the sea, the sea, the sea,
Than I do for the roaring of the sea."

Chorus: Oh the ocean waves may roll,
And the stormy winds may blow'
While we jolly sailors go skipping aloft
And the land lubbers lay down below, below, below
And the land lubbers lay down below.

And this is also the third verse and chorus in another version:
Solo: Then up spoke the Mate of our gallant ship,
And a fine spoken man was he!
Said: "I have a wife in Brooklyn by the sea,
And tonight a widow she will be, will be, will be,
And tonight a widow she will be!"

Chorus: Oh the ocean waves do roll,
And the stormy winds do blow'
While we poor sailors go skippin' at the top
While the land lubbers lie down below, below, below,
While the land lubbers lie down below!  Return to story.

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