File:The Merfolk's Toll

Track 09 on the album Shanties & Songs of Aldrayon. Lyrics below... The Garnet Crown: Book 1 in the Crimson Plumes series. Available now on Amazon and Amazon Kindle.

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Lyrics:

Chorus: If ye see them merfolk sail yer vessel straight along! (x3) They’ll rob yer and test yer legs in the water.

How formidable the merfolk with their shiny scales and pearls! They look as golden bullions glimmering in the sun. Ne’er have I seen such a sight in all this glorious world till the day I encountered one!

Chorus: If ye see them merfolk sail yer vessel straight along! (x3) They’ll rob yer and test yer legs in the water.

Well my deck be damned this merman demanded that I pay a toll, and he swam around me vessel and he brought with him soldiers. Ne’er have I seen such a sight! They surrounded me like gulls and threatened me with their cold curse.

Chorus: If ye see them merfolk sail yer vessel straight along! (x3) They’ll rob yer and test yer legs in the water.

“Just pay the toll” he bade me loud and he brandished a harpoon, and his soldiers nodded sternly as they pressed close with their own. Ne’er have I seen such a sight by light of the crimson moon, how their lamp-like eyes brightly shone!

Chorus: If ye see them merfolk sail yer vessel straight along! (x3) They’ll rob yer and test yer legs in the water.

Yet I wasn’t to be swindled by a gang of mad merfolk, so I told this reckless merman that I would not pay the toll. Ne’er have I seen such a sight! I would think it a cruel joke till in me ship he poked a hole!

Chorus: If ye see them merfolk sail yer vessel straight along! (x3) They’ll rob yer and test yer legs in the water.

Yet I wasn’t to roll over and I swiftly made attack. Gladly the hole was a warning above port side water line. Ne’er have I seen such a sight! With me cutlass I poked back to defend that vessel of mine.

Chorus: If ye see them merfolk sail yer vessel straight along! (x3) They’ll rob yer and test yer legs in the water.

Yea the merfolk waged a battle throwing harpoons and snaring some of me crew with seaweed ropes. Then I swung to that mer-prick. Ne’er have I seen such a sight! The merman stood proud glaring till I gave him a hefty kick.

Chorus: If ye see them merfolk sail yer vessel straight along! (x3) They’ll rob yer and test yer legs in the water.

And down in the water he went with a well-earned bloody nose. Then the red sharks came a-feasting and the waters turned crimson. Ne’er have I seen such a sight in the moonlight’s reddish glow shining brightly as the morning sun!

Chorus: If ye see them merfolk sail yer vessel straight along! (x3) They’ll rob yer and test yer legs in the water.