(Verse 1)
I looked into the water where the emerald rollers shine,
And saw a maiden comb her hair beneath the foaming brine.
Her eyes were like the twilight and her song was sweet and clear,
It drove away my reason and it vanished all my fear.
I kicked off both my leather boots, I gave a mighty cheer,
And leaped into the currents just to hold that lady dear.
I sank down through the bubbles with a pocket full of hope,
And left behind the freezing deck, the canvas, and the rope.
(Chorus)
So pull me back up, brothers, throw the lifeline from the bough!
I’d rather brave the tempest than the woman I have now!
The ocean depth is pretty, but the peaceful days are dead,
Oh, row the dinghy faster, boys, and pull me from my bed!
(Verse 2)
But when I reached her coral cave, the music ceased to play,
She put away her silver comb and started in right away!
She hollered at my posture and she criticized my clothes,
And asked why I was dripping slime and breathing through my nose.
She told me that my swimming style was clumsy and absurd,
And nagged about my manners with a sharp and biting word.
"You left your boots upon the ship! You never think ahead!
And look at all this seaweed that you’re tracking on the bed!"
(Chorus)
So pull me back up, brothers, throw the lifeline from the bough!
I’d rather brave the tempest than the woman I have now!
The ocean depth is pretty, but the peaceful days are dead,
Oh, row the dinghy faster, boys, and pull me from my bed!
(Verse 3)
I tried to find a bottle just to drown her dreadful screech,
She snapped, "You’re drinking way too much, you’re useless on the beach!
Go clean the barnacles away and polish up the shell,
And stop your lazy staring or I'll ring the dinner bell!"
She shook her tail right in my face and told me what to do,
I never knew a fish could be a bigger nag than Hugh!
She talked about her mother and she wept a briny tear,
Until my ears were ringing from the lecturing down here.
(Chorus)
So pull me back up, brothers, throw the lifeline from the bough!
I’d rather brave the tempest than the woman I have now!
The ocean depth is pretty, but the peaceful days are dead,
Oh, row the dinghy faster, boys, and pull me from my bed!
(Verse 4)
So now I'm swimming upward with a desperate, frantic pace,
To flee the terrible nagging of her beautiful green face!
I see the keel above me and the captain's angry stare,
And I'll gladly take a beating just to breathe the open air!
So haul me up the bulwarks, boys, and tie me to the mast,
For the siren of the deep has driven me to shore at last!
(Chorus)
So pull me back up, brothers, throw the lifeline from the bough!
I’d rather brave the tempest than the woman I have now!
The ocean depth is pretty, but the peaceful days are dead,
Oh, row the dinghy faster, boys, and pull me from my bed!
