The Little Maiden of the Sea - Stephin Merritt

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