The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #134132   Message #3197131
Posted By: Gibb Sahib
28-Jul-11 - 05:00 AM
Thread Name: Origin: Lowlands Away
Subject: RE: 'Lowlands Away' - origins.
1900[Oct.]        Lahee, Henry C. "Sailors' Chanteys." The Sea Breeze 13(1) (Oct. 1900): 13-14.

...So far as the tune is concerned, it is perhaps exceeded in quaintness and "atmosphere" by one which went by the name of ''Lowlands," and of which the chorus ended up with "five dollars and a half a day," — which might just as well be any other price you like to mention, as it was the sailor's dream of the pay which he could get in some other place where he was not. ...
For many years I have not found a sailor who could sing "Lowlands." The old-time deepwater men are scarce. It is not very easy to find men who know any reasonable number of chanteys, except perhaps some of the modern and more frivolous ones. ...