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Tuning: E A D G B E
This song was from Bobby Bare's 1973 "Lullabies, Legends and Lies" where Bobby covered a number of Shel Silverstein's songs. The intro is sung over chords which are held until the next chord. Play a simple walk-up run from the open E, F# and G# on the sixth string to the A chord to begin each verse. Alternate bass notes add a lot as well. The Db chord is played as a partial passing chord sod novices can just use this - (x-x-x-1-2-1) then slide up to the regular open D chord. There are a few chords that are held for emphasis at the end of each verse, but those will be clear to those that are familiar with the song. [Intro]
AWhen I was a lad in a fishin' town, an Dold man said to Ame "You can Dspend your Alife, your Djolly Alife, just Bsailin' on the Esea You can Asearch the world for pretty girls 'til your Deyes are weak and dim But Ddon't go swimmin' with a Amermaid, son, if you Edon't know how to Aswim!
[Verse 1]
Well, AI signed on to a whalin' ship, and my Dvery first day at Asea I Dseen a Amermaid Din the Awaves, a-Breachin' out to Eme "Come Alive with me in the sea," said she, "and Ddown on the ocean's floor I'll Dshow you a million Awond'rous things that you've Enever seen Abefore!"
[Verse 2]
Over AI jumped and she pulled me down, Ddown to her seaweed Abed Where a Dpillow Amade of Dtortoise Ashells, she Bplaced beneath my Ehead She Afed me shrimps and caviar Dupon a silver dish From her Dhead to her waste she was Ajust my taste, but the Erest of her was Afish!
[Chorus]
And her Dhair was green as Aseaweed And her Dskin was blue and Apale And her Dface it was a Awork of art And I Dloved that girl with Aall of my heart But I Aonly Bloved Dbthe Dupper part I Adid not Elove the Atail!
[Verse 3]
AThen one day she swam away, and I Dsang to the clams and the Awhales How I Dmissed her Afins, and her Dseaweed Ahair, and the Bsilvery shine of her Escales AThen her sister swam by, and Dset my heart a-whirl 'Cuz her Dupper part was an Augly fish, but the Ebottom part was AGIRL!
[Chorus]
And her Dtoes are pink and Arosey And her Dknees are soft and Apale And her Dlegs they are - a Awork of art And I Dlove that girl with Aall my heart I Adon't give a Bdamn about the Dbupper Dpart And Athat's how I Eend my Atale!