The Mermaid

Album: I'm So Good That I Don't Have to Brag (1965)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a fisherman who falls in love with a mermaid. He likes everything about her, but there's one problem - her bottom half is a fish. By the end of the song, the problem is solved when he comes across another mermaid, but this one is a fish from the waist up and the bottom half is a girl.
  • This was written by Shel Silverstein, who is known for his children's books like A Light In The Attic and Where The Sidewalk Ends, but was also a writer for Playboy magazine. This song is very humorous, but also very adult in nature. The story was published in Playboy in 1966. (Myers is author of Silverstein Around the World. Read more about Shel Silverstein in our interview with Mitch Myers.)
  • This is a concert favorite for the Canadian band Great Big Sea. They recorded it for their 2005 album The Hard and the Easy.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.