the little maiden of the sea
was not at all like you and me
where we have legs she was a fish
and she could only say:

"I wish...
I wish I were not incomplete
I wish I had some dainty feet,"

you see, one day she'd met a prince
and she'd been pining ever since
(the little maiden of the sea)

she'd gain her own immortal soul
if she became the prince's wife
she autovivisected
whole, she walked! each step was like a knife
a knife into her dainty feet
and she could neither speak nor sing
but surely, now she was complete
her prince would think of marrying
the little maiden of the sea

he married someone else, of course
and, saying nothing, she went home
then something turned, by mystic force
the little maiden into foam