Story Behind The Song
In May of 2012 I collaborated in a concert called "Twisted Fables & Woven Worlds" with two other fabulous artists, Catherine Gell (singer/songwriter) and Erin Dingle (poet/spoken word artist). The concert was themed around iconic objects from fairy tales and myth, which afforded me the creative space to write songs inspired by many of my favorite stories. In particular it provided me an opportunity to write a song that had been floating around my mind for a number of years, and that was the song of the Little Mermaid. I am not talking about precocious Disney princesses here, but rather the original, more poignant story of the Little Mermaid written by Hans Christian Andersen. It was a story that left an indelible mark on me as a child, her deep longing to feel whole, the sweetness of her sacrifice, the truth of her love. These were life lessons to me, as much as playground politics. She was real to me because I could find myself in her, because I could feel her pain, but more importantly, I could live her love.
Song Description
When I perform this song live, I often tell the story of my daughter Melaine, to whom I gifted a book of Hans Christian Andersen stories when she was about 9 years old. One day shortly after she came down the stairs from her room with a pensive look on her face. She asked, "why did Disney change the ending to The Little Mermaid? Why? It takes away all the meaning". Why indeed.
| Song Length |
4:57 |
Genre |
New Age - Neo Classical, World - General |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Heartbreaking, Moving |
Subject |
General, Lost Love |
| Similar Artists |
Loreena McKennitt |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
I wanted you to save me as I once saved you
There are no saviors when one is not two
My voice is all tangled in the depth of that sea
Where my crumbling Atlantis mourns silently
I can't regret this love like water
I can't regret the heart that led me to you
You gave me the sun
You gave me the air I'll relinquish
My mermaid's song undone
Her name was the prayer I danced to be near you
It was your kindness that was my ruin
The price had been paid but love can't be bought
Oh you named me friend and all was for naught
I can't regret this love like water
I can't regret the heart that led me to you
You gave me the sun
You gave me the air I'll relinquish
My mermaid's song undone
What is love if it can maim?
I won't sacrifice your trust to my pain
I'm not a dagger to taint the past with blood
The moments with you were infinity had
No regrets
Love is not love if it regrets
I gave you my heart
You gave me the air I'll relinquish
And sea foam I'll become
My mermaid's song undone