Mermaids and sirens have fascinated us through myths, legends, and fairy tales.
We long to unlock the mysteries of these enthralling beauties with tails for legs and voices that drown men.
These mythical creatures have appealed so much to us that many artists were inspired to make songs about them.
From Disney musicals to lovesick ballads, we have compiled a list of the best songs about mermaids and sirens. Whatever your taste is, there’s a song here for you.
Seafarers and sailors, take a breath and come dive into this feature of undersea songstresses.
- Jodi Benson – Part Of Your World
- Nightwish – Deep Silent Complete
- Ashley Serena – My Jolly Sailor Bold
- Nightwish – The Siren
- Samuel E. Wright – Under The Sea
- Kailee Morgue – Siren
- Laura Marling – Undine
- Nightwish – Turn Loose The Mermaids
- Blackbriar – Arms Of The Ocean
- Train – Mermaid
- Skott – Mermaid
- Broadway Cast Of The Little Mermaid – Fathoms Below
- Novo Amor – Anchor
- Jonah Hauer-King – Wild Uncharted Waters
- Nightwish – Wanderlust
- Stalking Gia – Siren
- The Decemberists – Rusalka, Rusalka / Wild Rushes
- Millie – Bathtub Mermaid
- This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren
- XTC – Mermaid Smiled
- Halsey – The Lighthouse
- Radiohead – There, There
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience – 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)
- Thomas Feiner & Anywhen – The Siren Songs
- Billie Myers – The Shark And The Mermaid
- The Little Mermaid II – Down To The Sea
- Samantha Moore – Song Of The Siren
1. Jodi Benson – Part Of Your World
There’s no other mermaid-related song that comes close to the 1989 track Part Of Your World.
Featured in the iconic film The Little Mermaid, the song is from the perspective of the protagonist Ariel, who desires to explore the human world as she sings in her grotto of human artifacts.
This song remains one of Disney’s classics, and Benson’s voice is both soothing and powerful to the ears.
It’s an irresistible track that simply calls out to the child in you to sing along.
2. Nightwish – Deep Silent Complete
The Finnish band Nightwish has produced many songs that contain references to mermaids and sirens. This song is the second single on their 2000 album Wishmaster.
The track is described as a ‘tribute to the might of the ocean’, with haunting siren-like melodies in the background.
3. Ashley Serena – My Jolly Sailor Bold
Dating back to the 17-1800s in Europe, this old sea shanty was often sung by sailors. The song is originally about a woman who falls in love with a sailor and prays for his return.
This track was also sung by the mermaids in the Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Though it didn’t start out sinister, Serena gives this song a wistful and resonant feel that depicts a siren trying a lure a sailor into the waters.
4. Nightwish – The Siren
Released on the 2005 album Once, “The Siren” is an energetic, fast-paced track about a sailor who struggles to brave the seas as the sirens attempt to capture him.
The song is delivered over an upbeat melody of exotic instruments, from a sitar to electric violin, that captures the desperation of the sailor in the lyrics.
5. Samuel E. Wright – Under The Sea
“Under The Sea” is another classic Disney single that wouldn’t fail to bring out the happy, fun-loving side of you.
With a calypso-tinged groove and reggae-inspired rhythm, this song is bouncy, vibrant, and a delight to sing.
6. Kailee Morgue – Siren
In this 2018 pop anthem, Morgue spins flowery lyrics into a ballad about a down-falling, toxic relationship.
It uses the metaphor of the mythological sirens to describe Morgue persuading her love interest to partake in this unhealthy dynamic.
The vintage-pop tune and elegant vocals certainly add to its alluring vibe, making it an enchanting experience.
7. Laura Marling – Undine
This 2013 folksy song finds Marling singing to an undine, a water nymph or siren, as she laments over how they cannot be together.
Its catchy guitar-backed tune draws you in, and Marling’s pleasing vocal delivery makes the song an enjoyable listen.
8. Nightwish – Turn Loose The Mermaids
If you’re looking for something atmospheric, you won’t be disappointed with this Celtic ballad from the band’s 2011 album Imaginaerum.
It has a more melancholic and sad tone as it follows the protagonist reminiscing about his past. The song contains plenty of references to the sea and mermaids, showing how much he’d experienced.
9. Blackbriar – Arms Of The Ocean
This haunting yet serene ballad embodies the real myth of mermaids and sirens, who hypnotize humans with their voices.
It takes place from two perspectives: one is from a naive sailor, the other from the siren.
The sailor finds himself falling deeper for the siren while she mesmerizes him to venture into the sea.
With powerful instrumentals, a fast-paced tune, and melodic vocals, it has a dark vibe that keeps you captivated.
10. Train – Mermaid
Pop rock band Train puts a more cheerful and positive twist on your typical gloomy mermaid-related ballads.
In this upbeat 2012 track, the protagonist takes a boat to a remote island and is entirely enamored with a mermaid he meets there.
A Caribbean-style song with its island flavor and uptempo instrumentals, it’s a fun, danceable song that’d be perfect for summer parties.
11. Skott – Mermaid
Skott’s Mermaid is a heartfelt ballad about taking risks for love and having the courage to be vulnerable.
The song uses the mermaid as a metaphor for being brave enough to venture far enough with someone precious.
This track sets an ethereal tone with eclectic instrumentation that gives you a rush as you listen to it.
12. Broadway Cast Of The Little Mermaid – Fathoms Below
The original 1989 version was a short sea shanty before the Broadway cover lengthened it and included more characters.
The song covers the tale of Triton, king of the sea, and his merpeople who live with him.
It also shows Prince Eric and Grimsby as they argue about seafaring and the prince’s inevitable possession of the crown.
This simple trick works great as an opening to The Little Mermaid, giving us an idea of the tone and setting of the story.
13. Novo Amor – Anchor
“Anchor” is one of those songs that makes you feel a rush of emotions that you can’t explain.
From melancholy to comfort, it’s a story of a man who wrestles with the reality that his relationship is over and finds it hard to get over his ex.
It might not explicitly talk about mermaids, but it does liken the ex to a mermaid who decides to leave the protagonist behind.
14. Jonah Hauer-King – Wild Uncharted Waters
Featured in Disney’s 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid, this passionate ballad finds Prince Eric longing for both the sea and the mysterious woman who’d saved him.
The song embodies Eric’s hunger for exploration and adventure perfectly.
With epic harmonies, Jonah’s intense vocal delivery, and amazing lyrical content, it’s a song that leaves you wanting more.
15. Nightwish – Wanderlust
Like the title, this fast-paced metal track is about finding the wanderer within you and traveling to experience life in different ways.
This uptempo track is a journey of its own, bringing us along to listen to siren songs, discover jungles, and ride dolphins.
16. Stalking Gia – Siren
This indie pop track has an entrancing tone, accompanied by a cheerful tune and gentle vocals.
It actually has a dark message as the protagonist loses grip of themselves in an attempt to have a relationship with a beguiling siren.
17. The Decemberists – Rusalka, Rusalka / Wild Rushes
Comprised of two parts, this whimsical track is about a protagonist who succumbs to the temptations led on by siren-like entities.
In Slavic mythology, the rusalki are malicious spirits associated with water and tend to drown people who fall into their watery territories.
The slow-paced tune and evocative lyrics make it a pleasant listen despite its tragic themes of heartbreak and death.
18. Millie – Bathtub Mermaid
Released in 2016, “Bathtub Mermaid” takes cues from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid.
With a gentle rhythm and vocals, the track is about a girl who’s so blinded by love she changes everything about herself, similar to how the mermaid gave up her tail and life for the human world.
19. This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren
“Song To The Siren” was originally written and performed by Tim Buckley in 1970.
The track finds a lovelorn sailor who yearns for the siren in the seas he’s journeying through.
It’s a wistful, creeping song that reminds you of crashing waves, salty breezes, and unrequited love.
20. XTC – Mermaid Smiled
This 1986 single revolves around lost childhood innocence and nostalgia.
Featuring a catchy tune, the track is full of magical events that could only happen in a child’s imagination, like making songs with shells or catching a mermaid’s smile.
21. Halsey – The Lighthouse
Halsey’s “The Lighthouse” weaves toxic relationships with the myth of sirens and the danger they impose to lure men to their deaths.
A rock-infused track, it goes hard with its gritty tune and sinister feel.
The song allegedly might be alluding to Halsey’s previous abusive relationship with rapper G-Eazy.
22. Radiohead – There, There
Radiohead’s 2003 track centers on the human struggle against the evil forces of temptation.
The song mentions rocks and sirens as elements that can misdirect and destroy us.
This grim single is delivered over tom-tom drums, and reverb-laden guitars before finishing off on a crescendo with a distorted riff.
23. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)
This beautiful track sees Jimi despairing in a war-torn people and escaping to the sea with his lover by becoming merpeople.
The lulling rhythm of this song blends well with the jazzy undertones and melancholic guitars, creating a relaxing undersea mood.
24. Thomas Feiner & Anywhen – The Siren Songs
Feiner captures the feeling of wanting to return to your ex even when the relationship is over in this poignant track.
He compares his ex-lover to a siren and mentions how much he’s willing to drown to be with her.
With gorgeous instrumentals, sublime lyrics, and Feiner’s baritone style, this ballad makes you feel like you’re slowly descending into the watery depths.
25. Billie Myers – The Shark And The Mermaid
You might think this would turn out to be a comedic song based on the title, but it surprisingly has a decent message.
This soulful ballad tells the story of a mermaid and shark, who endure years together as friends and lovers.
The simple melody and heartwarming lyrics give it a charming feel, and is worth a listen at least once!
26. The Little Mermaid II – Down To The Sea
It might be a direct-to-video film with a downgrade in animation quality, but the sequel to Disney’s The Little Mermaid had its fair share of strong points, particularly in the songs.
“Down To The Sea” finds familiar characters like Ariel, Eric, and Triton as they reunite to celebrate the birth of Melody, a child born of land and sea.
It’s a lively and lighthearted musical with a powerful intro by Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel, making us relive our childhood.
27. Samantha Moore – Song Of The Siren
An uptempo song, “Song Of The Siren,” tells the story of a sailor in search of wealth and fame on the seas.
The track features a folksy tune and Moore’s tender vocals that add a rustic tone to this whimsical ballad.
