Please, someone to correct this transcription. I have the text sung by Ewan MacColl on The English and Scottish Popular Ballads – vol.2, Folkways FG 3510, 1964. Ian Manuel sings a very similar one, and I have tried to get it, but I'm not sure of all the words. Thank you. Roberto
The Sweet Kumadie Ian Manuel, The Dales of Caledonia, Topic 12TS301, 1976
There once was a ship sailed frae the north country And the name of the ship was the Sweet Kumadie She was built o' the pine and the bay oak tree And she sailed on the Lowlands,Lowlands And she sailed on the Lowlands low
Well, we hadna been sailing a league but barely three When the look-out man he sighted a French gaudie And he said - We'll all be sent tae the bottom o' the sea As we sail on the Lowlands,Lowlands As we sail on the Lowlands low
Well, it's oot and spak our cabin-boy, oot spak he Cryin' - Captain, o captain,what will ye gie to me If I swim alang the side o' your French gaudie And I sink her in the Lowlands,Lowlands And I sink her in the Lowlands low?
Oh, it's I'll gi'e ye gowd and I will gi'e ye fee And my eldest dochter your bride for to be Gin ye'll swim alang the side o' yon French Gaudie And you sink her in the lowlands, lowlands And you sink her in the lowlands low
The boy bent his back and awa' swam he He swan till he cam' to the French Gaudie And wi' his instruments aboot him, he started to mak' free To sink her in the lowlands, lowlands For to sink her in the lowlands low
Oh, some were at the cairds and some were at the dice Four and twenty holes he has pierced in her side Until the salt water, aye, it flashed before their eyes And she sank in lowlands, lowlands And she sank in the lowlands low
O captain, O captain, be as guid as your word You'll throw me a rope and ye'll pu' me on board For your gaudie, oh she lies at the bottom of the road She lies in the lowlands, lowlands Oh, she lies in the lowlands low
I'm not throwin' ye a rope or pu' ye on board Ye can swim till ye sink, just as true as my word Ye can swim till ye sink tae the bottom of the road Ye can sink in the lowlands, lowlands Ye can sink in the lowlands low!
Ye'll throw me a rope and ye'll pu' me frae the sea Or I'll swim alang the side o' your Sweet Kumadie And I'll send her to the bottom like your French Gaudie And you'll sink on the lowlands, lowlands And you'll sink on the lowlands low!
Oh, he's thrown him a rope and they've pu'd him frae the sea He's gi'en to him the gowd and he's gi'en to him the fee And his eldest dochter his bride for to be As they sailed on the lowlands, lowlands; As they sailed on the lowlands low