017 - The Lowlands Low (B)

This version Stan Hugill had from his shipmate Jack Birch of Plymouth. This song is known as "Lowlands", "The Lowland Sea", "The Golden Vanitee", or "The Lowlands Low" seems to have been based on a ballad of seventeenth-century entitled "Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing in the Lowlands".
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 64).


The Lowlands Low (B)

There was a lofty ship boys, an' she put aut to sea
An' she goes by the name of the Golden Vanitee
An' we thought she would be taken by the spanish piratee
    as we sailed along the lowlands, lowlands
    as we sailed along the lowlands low!

                      *2*
Oh, we had aboard o' us a little cabin-boy
Who said, - "What will ye give me if the galley I destroy?"
Oh, ye can wed my daughter, she is my pride and joy
    If ye sink her in the lowlands, lowlands
    If ye sink her in the lowlands low!

                      *3*
'Of treasure and of gold I will give to ye a store,
And my pretty little daughter that dwelleth on the shore,
Of treasure and of fee as well I'll give to thee galore,
    If ye sink her in the lowlands, lowlands
    If ye sink her in the lowlands low!

                      *4*
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide
An' he swam until he came to the rascal pirate's side
He climbed on the deck an' went below, by none was he espied
    And he sank'em in the lowlands, lowlands
    And he sank'em in the lowlands low!

                      *5*
He bore with his auger, he bored once an' twice
And some were playin' cards an' some were playin' dice
An' water flowed in an'    dazzled their eyes
    An' he sank'em in the lowlands, lowlands
    An' he sank'em in the lowlands low!

                      *6*
Oh, some were playing cards, oh, an' some were playin' dice
And some wuz in their hammocks a-sportin' with their wives
An' then he let the water in an' put out all their lights
    And he sank her in the lowlands, lowlands
    And he sank her in the lowlands low!

                      *7*
Then the cabin-boy did swim o'er to the starboard side
Sayin' - "Capen, take me up, I am drifting with the tide."
"I will ink ye, I will kill ye, if ye claim my child as bride,
    I will sink ye in the lowlands, lowlands
    I will sink ye in the lowlands Low!

                      *8*
Then the cabin-boy did swim all to the lardboard side
Sayin' – "Shipmates take me up for I'm drowinin' with the tide."
They hauled him up so quickly, but when on deck he died
    And they buried him in the lowlands, lowlands
    And they buried him in the lowlands low!

                      *9*
'And his shipmates took him up, and when on deck he died
They sewed him in his hammock which was so strong and wide
They said a short prayer o'er him, and they dropped him in the tide
    And they sailed from the lowlands, lowlands
    And they sailed from the lowlands low!

                      *10*
Here's a curse upon that Captain, wherever he may be
For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea
For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea
    And to leave him in the lowlands, lowlands
    And to leave him in the lowlands low!