Soul Cages

On a wild Atlantic evenin' I saw sitting on a rock
A lovely Merrow maiden combing her green locks
Then across the water her glowing eyes met mine
Caught me up and from me said:
"Marry me febrine."

Long into the squalling dark I held a pale green hand
Fortune had determined that I would leave dry land
Legend was that Merrow folk all love a stormy sea
Caught the souls of drowning men, never to set them free

Chorus:
She wore a cap of scarlet
And dove beneath the sea
I know that if I follow her
She'll never set me free

Through the grates of collarough she took me to her home
Fed me of the finest catch that through the waters roamed
All the golden treasures that slip down through the sea
Along the walls of aging souls, whispering to me

Chorus

Will you have a bit of wine, a drop to make you warm?
Merrows keep the very best, spoils of the storm
As my lover turned away I went down to my task
To lift the edge of every cage and free each soul at last

Chorus

I have kept the secret in our home of oyster shell
Now and then I free a soul that rises through the swell
Floundering children caper schooling the walls of green
The sky is deep the water where the bride has fished for me

Chorus

She wore a cap of scarlet
And dove beneath the sea
And now that I have followed her
I never will be free