Captain Jack was a young man when he went to sea
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye
He was barely a child of twenty and three

Oh, tell him, young ladies, go and tell him for me
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea

Now I love Captain Jack and his bride I would be
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye
We were soon to be wedded, my Jacky and me

Oh, tell him, young ladies, go and tell him for me
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea

But his ship it had need of a captain one day
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye
He took charge of the rigging and soon sailed away

Oh, tell him, young ladies, go and tell him for me
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea

When three years had passed and his ship had returned
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye
I went down to the sea for the man I had earned

Oh, tell him, young ladies, go and tell him for me
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea

But my Jack was not there when I went to see
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye
And this is the tale the crew told to me

Oh, tell him, young ladies, go and tell him for me
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea

It was almost eight bells and Jack had the watch
He was finning and scaling the fish he had caught
When out of the sea there arose such a tune
As he had not heard by the light of the moon
He looked off to the water and what saw he there
But a beautiful maiden with gold in her hair
She had gowns made of seaweed and a crown on her head
As he stared at the mermaid she quietly said
I have followed your ship for many miles
One day the sea reflected your smile
And I'll give you my kingdom eternally
If you'll marry this mermaid that lives in the sea
Well Jack was in love with the beautiful girl
And he jumped o'er the side in the watery swirl
She then took his arm and she led him away
And we searched all those waters til dawn the next day
We tolled the bell loud, we tolled the bell long
And the looks on our faces were saddened and drawn
When out of the sea Jacky rose like a king
And this is the message he begged us to bring
I have long loved a lady who lives on the land
But my life with the mermaid is ever so grand
Won't you go to my lady and ask her for me
May I marry this mermaid that lives in the sea?
And that is the story I heard from the crew
My tears, they were many, my choices were few
I went down to the sea, the ship's bell to ring
And this is the song that I was heard to sing

Captain Jack was a young man when he went to sea
All the young ladies go and kiss him goodbye
He was barely a child of twenty and three
Oh, tell him, young ladies, go and tell him for me
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea
Tell him, young ladies, go and tell him for me
He can marry the mermaid that lives in the sea