{title: The Mermaid}
{artist: Trad (English/Irish, Roud 124, Child 289; 18th c.)}
{key: D}
{tempo: 116}
{difficulty: beginner}
{strand: R}
{feel: drive}
{lead_voice: mid}
{lead_mode: solo}
{lead_demand: easy}
{harmony: M,H}
{a_cappella: no}
{kit: gtr,fdl,whs,bod}
{set_role: romp}
{lang: en}
{country_tags: IE}
{copyright: pd}
{tags: chorus,disaster-ballad,group-sing,irish,maritime,public-domain,romp,singalong,traditional,uk-trad}
{video: youtube:nZQAC6CLtPA}
{credit: Traditional disaster-ballad about a ship that sinks after the captain spots a mermaid. Roud Folk Song Index #124, Child Ballad #289. Mid-18th-century origin, fully public domain. Reference recording: Eddie Biggins — 'The Mermaid (old-time sea shanty)' (YouTube `nZQAC6CLtPA`).}

{c: Big rollicking ship-goes-down romp in D. Sing the verses straight; let the chorus roar — "the ocean waves may roll" is the singalong everyone catches by verse 2.}
{c: Three chords (D / G / A) the whole way. Comic-disaster tone: the captain warns the crew, the cabin boy mourns home, the ship sinks anyway, life goes on.}

{c: ===== STRUCTURE =====}
{c: Verse — Chorus — Verse — Chorus — ... 4 verses + 4 choruses + a big-finish chorus tag. The "below, below, below / and the landlubbers lie down below" is the call to roar.}

{c: Verse 1}
{start_of_verse}
It was [D]Friday morn when [G]we set [D]sail
And we were not far from the [A]land
When our [D]captain he spied a [G]mermaid so [D]fair
With a comb and a [A]glass in her [D]hand
{end_of_verse}

{c: Chorus}
{start_of_chorus}
Oh the [D]ocean waves may [G]roll
And the [D]stormy winds may [A]blow
While we [D]poor sailors go [G]skipping to the [D]tops
And the [A]landlubbers lie down be[D]low, be[A]low, be[D]low
And the [G]landlubbers lie [A]down be[D]low
{end_of_chorus}

{c: Verse 2}
{start_of_verse}
Then [D]up spoke the captain [G]of our gallant [D]ship
And a fine old man was [A]he
"This [D]fishy mermaid has [G]warned us of our [D]doom
We shall sink to the [A]bottom of the [D]sea"
{end_of_verse}

{c: Chorus}

{c: Verse 3}
{start_of_verse}
Then [D]up spoke the cabin boy [G]of our gallant [D]ship
And a brave little boy was [A]he
"I've a [D]father and a mother in [G]old Portsmouth [D]town
And this night they'll be [A]weeping for [D]me"
{end_of_verse}

{c: Chorus}

{c: Verse 4}
{start_of_verse}
Then [D]three times round went [G]our gallant [D]ship
And three times round went [A]she
And the [D]third time that she [G]went a[D]round
She sank to the [A]bottom of the [D]sea
{end_of_verse}

{c: ===== BIG FINISH =====}
{c: Final chorus louder, drag the "below, below, below" out for emphasis.}

{start_of_chorus}
Oh the [D]ocean waves may [G]roll
And the [D]stormy winds may [A]blow
While we [D]poor sailors go [G]skipping to the [D]tops
And the [A]landlubbers lie down be[D]low, be[A]low, be[D]low
And the [G]landlubbers lie [A]down be[D]low!
{end_of_chorus}

{c: PRACTICE NOTES}
{c: Strum: galloping 4/4, accent on 2 and 4. Bodhrán: triplet roll on the "below, below, below" — the song's signature hit.}
{c: Voicing: melody mid-range; high harmony joins on the chorus only ("ocean waves" → harmony, verses → unison lead). Don't harmonise the verses; the lead carries the narrative.}
{c: For whistle/fiddle: melody doubles the vocal on the chorus, drops out for verses to let the story land.}
{c: Romp slot — works after a hush song (the mood-flip wakes the room) or as a mid-set pace-pusher.}