Sad Stephen Song

And there were mermaids --weren't there?--
Sweet silver mermaids
All through that grey Trafalgar Square
Such silver mermaids

They were young, and they were fair
They brushed their bronze and dusky hair
And whispered, "Come, Sad Stephen, come, and play here"

"You will love, you will be loved
You will grow up, and do so much
You will be strong, you be sung
By all the mermaids. Silver mermaids..."

And once they'd sung their satin song
They beckoned to me from the fog --
They spread their arms and lifted
Pale-portraid faces... I was taken

To their coral-cavern halls,
To rooms with oyster shells for walls,
To sandy nooks, and pearly book, and ivory dolls...

In ivory stalls, in ivory stalls...

And there were mermaids --weren't there?--
Swet silver mermaids
All through that wan, forgotten square,
Silver mermaids

They were young, and they were fair
They brushed their bronze and dusky hair
And whispered, "Come, Sad Stephen, come"
And I was taken

Was I wrong? Should I have run?
I wanted all, I wanted young
And portrait faces... I was taken

Did I love? I didn't care
Did I grow up? Well unaware

And I was strong? And I was sung?
How do I haunt Trafalgar fog
And find I want so much, still want --

And no more mermaids
No more mermaids...