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Fiji Mermaid Lyrics
Stitch up the nets but the patch won't stay
As the nail beds rest in the calico hay
The Fiji Mermaid dressed in macrame's
Wading road in the fork and a bend
In the spoon tern cut short as a shadow at noon
Melting like wax as that once full moon's
Now waning ersatz acts an insufferable bore
'Sharp Shots' dull as a harlequin's sword
When doing as you please doesn't please you anymore
Stick of the match as the paraffin show
Drop a nickel to watch the asparagus grow
'The stone in what shell?'
You sure like to know now don't you?
A loom in the heir as the medicine came
To the nest of the mare of the mystery claims
But you'll miss having someone to blame
For your sadness, now won't you?
Well maybe there'll be a bakery hiring --
We'll knead a little dough to get by
[Groan!]
Did you come knocking on my door
Or did I come to yours?
Whose ship came washed up on whose shore?
And from what ocean floor?
There wasn't much to her dress
& I felt stuck in my body like a horse in quicksand...
Didn't you come knocking on my door?
As the nail beds rest in the calico hay
The Fiji Mermaid dressed in macrame's
Wading road in the fork and a bend
In the spoon tern cut short as a shadow at noon
Melting like wax as that once full moon's
Now waning ersatz acts an insufferable bore
'Sharp Shots' dull as a harlequin's sword
When doing as you please doesn't please you anymore
Drop a nickel to watch the asparagus grow
'The stone in what shell?'
You sure like to know now don't you?
To the nest of the mare of the mystery claims
But you'll miss having someone to blame
For your sadness, now won't you?
We'll knead a little dough to get by
[Groan!]
Or did I come to yours?
Whose ship came washed up on whose shore?
And from what ocean floor?
& I felt stuck in my body like a horse in quicksand...
Song Info
Submitted by
iamjackslameusername On May 14, 2012
More mewithoutYou
January 1979
Silencer
The Dryness and the Rain
Messes of Men
In a Sweater Poorly Knit
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first comment woop. I'm still figuring this song out but I do love this little punny joke "Well maybe there'll be a bakery hiring -- We'll knead a little dough to get by [Groan!]"
Also I love this "Did you come knocking on my door Or did I come to yours?" Reminds me of Son Of A Widow.
Sharp Shots is a nerf gun, which explains how dull the harlequins sword is and how dull life eventually gets when you only do as you please.
Also, a fiji mermaid is the head of a monkey sewn to the body of a fish. These were made of paper meche and used as props in carny sideshows.
P. T. Barnum popularized the Fiji Mermaid, and he also used the popularity of the Cardiff Giant (referenced earlier in the album) to boost his show. Does this suggest the girl, related to the mermaid, is a just a hoax like the giant, or that the relationship is just as empty?
P. T. Barnum popularized the Fiji Mermaid, and he also used the popularity of the Cardiff Giant (referenced earlier in the album) to boost his show. Does this suggest the girl, related to the mermaid, is a just a hoax like the giant, or that the relationship is just as empty?
I feel like this song is about a relationship that used to be great but the two people feel like they're drifting apart. Just my interpretation.
This also references the myth of glaucus. look it up.
Would you mind elaborating? There are so many different versions, what specifically is the song referencing other than having fishy bits?
Would you mind elaborating? There are so many different versions, what specifically is the song referencing other than having fishy bits?
I think this song is about the circus after all the animals have left. It sounds like the circus is using tricks and tactics to get people to come to the circus, using fiji mermaids and harlequins to replace them, but the circus is suffering financially. Julian the Onion also touches on this issue. I'm not so sure about the last few lines and how they tie in, but this is just my own interpretation.
P. T. Barnum popularized the Fiji Mermaid (the origin of which cutdowntree explains). Barnum also used the popularity of the Cardiff Giant (referenced earlier in the album) to boost his show. Does this suggest the girl, related to the mermaid, is a just a hoax like the giant, or that the relationship is just as empty?