A mermaid went a-searching,
For her heart was empty and cold;
She was tired of her combs and mirrors,
She was tired of her pearls and gold.

She was tired of the creaming breakers,
She was tired of laughter and song,
She was tired of luring sailors,
Who never loved her long.

She searched in the sandy shallows,
And found, day after day,
Only the bones of sailors —
Poor sailors thrown away.

She searched in the deep green hollows,
And what do you think she found?
Only a little baby —
A baby that was drowned.

She pressed it close to her bosom
Under her long hair's veil;
She kissed it and hugged it and rocked it,
As she swayed on her long green tail.

She was young with immortal beauty,
She was old as the sea is old —
But the baby could never kiss her,
And her heart was empty and cold.