Sea King lyrics

Maid Agnes musing sat alane

Upon the wave sat she

When up a beauteous merman rose

From the bottom of the sea

And he was clad unto the waist

With scales like silver white

And on his breast the setting sun

Shone rosy beams of light

He's ta'en her doun the deep, deep sea

And made her his lady fair

In his palace where a king is he

And minnows follow him there

And all along the green, green deeps

Grow flowers wondrous fair

They drink the wave and grow as tall

As those that breathe the air

Eight happy years fair Agnes dwelt

Under the green-sea wave

And seven beauteous little ones

She to the merman gave

She sat beneath the tall sea-plant

And softly took his hand

"I must return, but only once

To see again my land"

A thousand times "Goodnight" she said

Unto her children small

And ere she went away she stooped

And softly kissed them all

Now Agnes sees the sun again

And steps upon the strand

She trembles at the light, and hides

Her eyes with her white hand

Among the folk she used to know

As they walk to the kirk, steps she

"We know thee not, thou woman wild

Come from a far countrie"

Then folded she her thin, white hands,

The merman's weary wife: saying,

"Heaven help me in my wickedness

And take away my life!"

All in the twilight, when the sun

Sank down behind the main

Her hands were pressed upon her heart

Her heart had broke in twain

The waves creep up across the strand

Sighing so mournfullie

And tenderly they washed the corse

To the bottom of the sea

Three days she lay beneath the waves

Till she was washed ashore

Now under stone the maiden's bones

Shall lie for ever more

Each evening and each morning

The stone is wet above

The merman hath wept (so they say)

Over his lost true-love