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
 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.