Woody Guthrie: Mermaid's Avenue

Mermaid Avenue that's the street
Where the fast and slow folks meet,
Where the cold ones meet the hot ones
Just a block from Coney's beach.
Mermaid Avenue that's the place
Where the wolves and haybags chase
In big fur coats and bathing suits
They're in the raggeldy race

Chorus

But there's never been a mermaid here
On Mermaid Avenue
No, I've never seen a mermaid here
On Mermaid Avenue
I've seen hags and wags and witches;
And I've seen a shark or two
My five years that I've lived along
Old Mermaid's Avenue

Mermaid Avenue that's the street
Where the lox and bagles meet,
Where the hot dog meets the mustard
Where the sour meets the sweet;
Where the beer flows to the ocean
(Where the halvah meets the pickle)
Where the wine runs to the sea;
Why they call it Mermaid Avenue
That's more than I can see.

Mermaid Avenue that's the street
Where the saint and sinners meet;
Where the grey hair meets the wave curls
Where the cops don't ever sleep;
Where they pay some cops to stop you
When you hit that Sea Gate gate;
Where them bulls along that wire fence
Scare the mermaids all away

Mermaid Avenue that's the street
Where the sun and storm clouds meet;
Where the ocean meets that rockwall
Where the boardwalk meets the beach;
Where the prettiest of the maidulas
Leave their legprints in that sand
Just beneath our lovesoaked boardwalk
With the bravest of our lads.

Mermaid Avenue that's the street
Where all colors of goodfolks meet;
Where the smokefish meets the pretzel
Where the borscht sounds like the seas;
This is where hot Mexican Chili
Meets Chop Suey and meatballs sweet;
Mermaid Avenue she's a nervous jerk
But, still, she's hard to beat.