[Verse 1: Stephin Merritt]
On winter nights the mermaid sings
"I was made for better things
Better things, dearie
Better things"

[Verse 2]
In early spring the ghost princess
Goes haunting in her pretty dress
Pretty dress, your majesty
Pretty dress

[Chorus 1: Stephin Merritt & Claudia Gonson]
And I have heard
The singing of real birds
Not those absurd birds
That simply everybody's heard
Real birds

[Verse 3]
In summer when the moon is full
The wolf boy is adorable
Adorable, you're
Adorable

[Chorus 2]
I have observed
The winging of real birds
Not those reserved birds
That simply everyone's observed
Real birds