G D7 There was a young sailor who looked through a glass, D7 Spied a fair mermaid with scales on her G D7 Island where seagulls fly over their nests, D7 She combed the long hair that hung over her G D7 Shoulders and caused her to tickle and itch, D7 The sailor cried out, “There’s a beautiful G D7 Mermaid a-sitting out there on the rocks”, D7 The crew come a-runnin’ a-grabbin’ their G D7 Glasses and crowded four deep to the rail, D7 All eager to share in this fine piece of G D7 News that the Captain soon heard from the watch, D7 He tied down the wheel and he reached for his G D7 Crackers and cheese that he kept by the door, D7 In case he might someday encounter a G D7 Mermaid he knew he must use all of his wits, D7 Crying, “Throw out a line, we’ll lasso her G D7 Flippers and then we will certainly find D7 If mermaids are better before or G D7 Be brave my good fellows,” the Captain then said, D7 With fortune we’ll break through her mermaiden G D7 Heading to starboard they tacked with dispatch, D7 Caught that fair mermaid just under her G D7 Elbows and hustled her down below decks, D7 Each took a turn at her feminine G D7 Setting her free at the end of the farce, D7 She splashed on the waves landing flat on her G D7 After a while one man noticed some scabs, D7 Soon they broke out with the pox and the G D7 Scratching with fury, cursing with spleen, D7 This song may be dull but it's certainly clean.