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GUEST,Julia L Origins: Lowlands of Holland in Suffolk (7) RE: Origins: Lowlands of Holland in Suffolk 29 Jul 24


Interesting variations in Maine
We have one here with a chorus noted by Roland Palmer Gray in Songs & Ballads Of The Maine Lumberjacks, Lowlands Low
Sung by Murray, in Holden, Maine, 1914

"My curse rest on that captain
That parted my love and me."

This one from Fanny Hardy Eckstorm's Minstrelsy of Maine- 1927
JOHN ROSS By Dan Golden

O, the night that I was married, O,
And laid on marriage bed,
Up rose John Ross and Cyrus Hewes
And stood at my bedhead

Saying Arise you married man
And come along with me
To the lonesome hills of Suncook
To swamp them logs for me

(John Ross was a lumber boss from Bangor, ME)

Also found this
Phillips Barry folder #1 Mrs. Lewis Pierce Songbook 1845 (Bangor ME)

Lowlands of Holland
I had scarce got into my bed, I scarce had got to sleep
?Before a noble chieftain came and stood at my bed feet?
Saying, "Arise my noble warrior and go along with me?
Into the lowlands of Holland to fight for Germany"

A fine ship prepared, a fine ship for the sea?
And four and twenty mariners to bear the ship away?
This ship it sailed for Holland and I have heard some say?
In the lowlands of Holland this ship was cast away

"No clothing on my back shall go, no comb go through my hair?
No candlelight nor fire bright shall enter here?
Nor neither will I married be until the day I die?
Since the lowland of Holland parted my love and I"

Her mother said dear daughter, why do you thus lament
?Is there not lords enough in Galloway to give your heart content?"?
"I know there's lords in Galloway, but there is none for me?
For I never had but one and he is drowned in the sea."

He is drowned in the salt sea, and left me here to mourn
It's enough to break a fair maid's heart, who's so lately been a bride
A bride, a bride, a bonny bride
In the lowlands of Holland, my love lies dead and cold.

I was interested in the reference to a "chieftain" rather than a "captain".

David Herd's Scots songs 1776 page 2
has a reference to Galloway in the last verse

O had your tongue my daughter dear, be still and be content,
There are mair lads in Galloway, ye neednae fair lament;
O ! there is nane in Galloway, there's nane at a' for me.
For I never loved a love but ane, and he's drown'd in the sea.

As far as antiquity goes, you probably know "The Seaman's Sorrowful Bride" 1684 broadside Roxburghe Ballads
"But Hollands Land doth me withstand,
and part my Love and I"


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