"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."
Written on: 2007-10-12. Seanan McGuire