Mermaid's Avenue lyrics

Mermaid Avenue that’s the street

Where the lox and bagels meet,

Where the sour meets the sweet;

Where the beer flows to the ocean

Where the wine runs to the sea;

Why they call it Mermaid Avenue

That’s more than I can see.

But there’s never been a mermaid here

On Mermaid Avenue

No, I’ve never seen a mermaid here

On Mermaid Avenue

I’ve seen hags and wags and witches;

And I’ve seen a shark or two

My five years that I’ve lived along

Old Mermaid’s Avenue

Mermaid Avenue that’s the street

Where the saint and sinners meet;

Where the grey hair meets the wave curls

Where the cops don’t ever sleep;

Where they pay some cops to stop you

When you hit that Sea Gate gate;

Where them bulls along that wire fence

Scare the mermaids all away

Mermaid Avenue that’s the street

Where the sun and storm clouds meet;

Where the ocean meets that rockwall

Where the boardwalk meets the beach;

Where the prettiest of the maidulas

Leave their legprints in that sand

Just beneath our lovesoaked boardwalk

With the bravest of our lads.

Mermaid Avenue that’s the street

Where all colors of goodfolks meet;

Where the smokefish meets the pretzel

Where the borscht sounds like the seas;

This is where hot Mexican Chili

Meets Chop Suey and meatballs sweet;

Mermaid Avenue she’s a nervous jerk

But, still, she’s hard to beat.

• Artist:Woody Guthrie