Sad Stephen's Song
Duncan Sheik Lyrics

And there were mermaids, weren't there
Sad Stephen reminisces about the existence of mermaids in not just one but multiple instances

Sweet silver mermaids
The mermaids possessed enchanting and captivating features that appeal to Sad Stephen

All through that gray Trafalgar Square
The mermaids were witnessed by Sad Stephen in Trafalgar Square on a dull and gloomy day

Such silver mermaids
Sad Stephen emphasizes the allure and charm carried by the mermaids with the repeated use of the term 'silver mermaids'

They were young, and they were fair
The mermaids were youthful and physically attractive

They brushed their bronze and Dusky hair
The mermaids had dark hair with a bronze-like complexion

And whispered, "Come, Sad Stephen, come, and play here"
The mermaids invited Sad Stephen to come over and enjoy their presence

"You will love, you will be loved
The mermaids gave Sad Stephen assurance of finding love and being loved in return

You will grow up, and do so much
The mermaids expressed confidence in Sad Stephen's future and his potential to achieve many things

You will be strong, you will be sung
The mermaids spoke of Sad Stephen's strength and how he will be praised and sung about by many people

By all the mermaids, silver mermaids"
The mermaids echoed the sentiment of all mermaids regarding Sad Stephen's future and success

And once they'd sung their satin song
The mermaids sang a bewitching and smooth song to Sad Stephen

They beckoned to me from the fog
The mermaids called upon Sad Stephen from the thick fog in Trafalgar Square

They spread their arms and lifted Pale-portrait faces
The mermaids looked mystic with their arms widely spread and their pale white faces and body glistening in the fog

I was taken
The mermaids exerted great influence over Sad Stephen's senses, and he couldn't resist their temptation

To their coral-cavern halls
The mermaids took Sad Stephen inside their underwater caves that were decorated with corals

To rooms with oyster shells for walls
The rooms inside the mermaids' coral caves had walls made of oyster shells

To sandy nooks, and pearly books and ivory dolls
The underground caverns of the mermaids held several items, including books made of pearls, dolls made of ivory, and sandy nooks

In ivory stalls, in ivory stalls
The mermaids' ivory stalls made out of tusks were used for storing items

They were young, and they were fair
Sad Stephen a yearns for the company of the mermaids, who were young and fair

And whispered, "Come, Sad Stephen, come"
The mermaids extended another invitation for Sad Stephen to join them

Was I wrong? should I have run?
Sad Stephen expresses remorse and questions himself if he was wrong for indulging in the company of the mermaids

I wanted all, I wanted young
Sad Stephen admits to his greed and desire for having everything and being young

And portrait faces
Sad Stephen was attracted to the appearance of the mermaids' faces and portraits

I was taken
Once again, Sad Stephen couldn't resist the spell cast by the mermaids and got swayed by them

Did I love? I didn't care
Sad Stephen ponders whether he experienced love in the mermaids' company or not and concludes by expressing his indifference towards it

Did I grow up? Well, unaware
Sad Stephen now wonders whether he has grown up or not and whether he is even self-aware anymore

And was I strong? And was I sung?
Sad Stephen questions his previous notion of being strong and sung by people

How do I haunt Trafalgar fog
Sad Stephen now wonders how he is stuck in the fog of Trafalgar Square and unable to find a way out

And find I want so much, still want
Sad Stephen is still greedy and yearning for more even after being in the company of mermaids and realizing his mistake

And no more mermaids
Sad Stephen accepts his fate and comes to terms with the fact that the mermaids will no longer be a part of his life

No more mermaids
The song ends with a repeated phrase of 'no more mermaids,' signifying that the chapter of the mermaids in Sad Stephen's life is now closed