"How much salt to bind a man? Tell me, Mama, tell me
How much sea and how much land? Tell me, Mama, tell me
How much water, how much sand, how much salt to bind a man
Bring him here at my command, tell me, Mama, tell me."
"Dry the waves and bind the tide, oh my darling daughter
If you'd keep him at your side, oh my darling daughter
If your heart won't be denied, dry the waves and bind the tide
Then let Amphitrite decide, oh my darling daughter."
"What's the song the sirens sing? Tell me, Mama, tell me
Perfect as a golden ring? Tell me, Mama, tell me
They bind cabin boys and kings, what's the song the sirens sing
That's the answer, that's the thing, tell me, Mama, tell me."
"One's for sorrow, two's for joy, oh my darling daughter
Three's a love you won't enjoy, oh my darling daughter
Four's a pretty painted toy, one's for sorrow, two's for joy
If this weapon you'd deploy, oh my darling daughter."
"Why's he hot when I'm so cold? Tell me, Mama, tell me
Why's he never mine to hold? Tell me, Mama, tell me
Every time this story's told, he burns hot and I'm so cold
I'm aching like my heart's been sold -- tell me, Mama, tell me."
"He's the glimmer of the sun, oh my darling daughter
He's your love, the only one, oh my darling daughter
He's the war you've never won, and he's the glimmer of the sun
He'll never know how much you've done, oh my darling daughter."
"Must this be my only home? Tell me, Mama, tell me
Cold and salt and bitter foam, tell me, Mama, tell me
All I long for is to roam -- must this be my only home?
His heart's the beach I wish to comb, tell me, Mama, tell me."
"Sea-king's daughter, fair and pale, oh my darling daughter
You know how they tell this tale, oh my darling daughter
Let the storm winds weep and wail, sea-king's daughter, fair and pale
For you must try, and you must fail, oh my darling daughter."
"How much salt to bind a man? Tell me, Mama, tell me
How much sea and how much land? Tell me, Mama, tell me
How much water, how much sand, how much salt to bind a man
Bring him here at my command, tell me, Mama, tell me
Bring him here at my command, tell me, Mama, tell me
Tell me, Mama, tell me."