"The Mermaid" is a song about a whaler falling in love with a mermaid, but despairs because the mermaid has fish parts below her waist. It was written by Shel Silverstein and recorded on his album ''I'm So Good That I Don't Have to Brag'', in 1965. In December 1966, "The Mermaid" was published in '' Playboy'' magazine while Silverstein was a regular contributor.

Bobby Bare Robert Joseph Bare Sr. (born April 7, 1935) is an American country music singer and songwriter, best known for the songs "Marie Laveau", " Detroit City" and "500 Miles Away from Home". He is the father of Bobby Bare Jr., also a musician. Early ca ...

released a version on his 1973 album ''Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends and Lies''. It was covered in 2005 by

Great Big Sea Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year Irish, Scot ...

, who released their version on their CD '' The Hard and the Easy''. Glenn Yarbrough also sings a version on his 1966 album ''Live at the Hungry I''.

References

Shel Silverstein CD
Shel Silverstein songs 1965 songs Songs written by Shel Silverstein {{1960s-song-stub