Nine more recordings of the Golden Vanity (Child #286), American traditional singers, American folksingers and the folk-rock's by Steeleye Span. Roberto

11. THE GOLDEN WILLOW TREE
Justus Begley, on Anglo-American Ballads, Volume 2, Rounder CD 1516, original release for the Library of Congress; song recorded in 1937

There was a little ship in South Amerikee
Crying, O the land that lies so low
There was a little ship in South Amerikee
She went by the name of the Golden Wilow Tree
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low
As she sailed in the lowland so low

We hadn't been a-sailing more than two weeks or three
Crying, O the land that lies so low
We hadn't been a-sailing more than two weeks or three
Till we came in sight of the British Roverie
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low
As she sailed in the lowland so low

Up stepped a little carpenter boy
Crying, O the land that lies so low
Up stepped a little carpenter boy
Says - What will you give me for the ship that I'll destroy?
And I'll sink 'em in the lowland lonesome low
And I'll sink 'em in the lowland so low

I'll give you gold or I'll give thee
Crying, O the land that lies so low
I'll give you gold or I'll give thee
The fairest of rny daughters as she sails upon the sea
If you'll sink 'em in the lowland so low
If you'll sink them in the land that lies so low

Then he turned upon his back and away swam he
Crying, O the land that lies so low
He turned upon his back and away swam he
He swum till he came to the British Roverie
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low
As she sailed in the lowland so low

He had a little instrument fitted for his use
Crying, O the land that lies so low
He had a little instrument fitted for his use
He bore nine holes and he bore them all at once
And he sank her in the lowland lonesome low
And he sank her in the lowland so low

Well, he turned upon his breast and back swum he
Crying, O the land that lies so low
He turned upon his breast and back swum he
He swum till he came to the Golden Willow Tree
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low
As she sailed in the lowland so low

Captain, O Captain, come take me on board
Crying, O the land that lies so low
O Captain, O Captain, come take me on board
And do unto me as good as your word
For I sank 'em in the lowland lonesome low
I sank her in the lowland so low

Oh, no, I won't take you on board
Crying, O the land that lies so low
Oh, no, I won't take you on board
Nor do unto you as good as my word
Though you sank 'em in the lowland lonesome low
Though you sank 'em in the lowland so low

If it wasn't for the love that I have for your men
Crying, O the land that lies so low
If it wasn't for the love that I have for your men
I'd do unto you as I done unto them
I'd sink you in the lowland lonesome low
I'd sink you in the lowland so low

He turned upon his head and down swum he
Crying, O the land that lies so low
He turned upon his head and down swum he
He swum till he came to the bottom of the sea
Sank himself in the lowland lonesome low
Sank himself in the lowland so low



12. A Ship Set Sail For North America
Ollie Jacobs, on Child Ballads Traditional in the United States II, edited bt Bertrand H. Bronson, Long-Playing Records AAFS L58; song recorded in 1941

A ship set sail for North America
And she went by the name of the Turkish Revelee
As she sailed along the lonesome lowlands low
As she sailed along the lowlands sea

There was another ship in the North Country
And she went by the name of the Golden Willow Tree
As she sailed upon the lonesome lowlands low
As she sailed upon the lowlands sea

Captain, oh captain, what will you give me
If I overtake her and sink her in the sea
If I'll sink her in the lonesome lowlands low
If I'll sink her in the lowlands sea

I have a house and I have land
And I have a daughter that will be at your command
If you'll sink her in the lonesome lowlands low
If you'll sink her in the lowlands sea

I have a little tool just fitted for the use
Pouring for salt water and letting in the slews
As she sails upon the lonesome lowlands low
As she sails upon the lowlands sea

He fell upon his back and away swam he
Until he overtaken the Golden Willow Tree
As she sailed along the lonesome lowlands low
As she sailed along the lowlands sea

Some with their hats and some with their caps
Trying to stop the salt water gaps
As she sailed along the lonesome lowlands low
As she sailed along the lowlands sea

He fell upon his back and away swam he
Until he overtaken the Turkish Revelee
As she sailed along the lonesome lowlands low
As she sailed along the lowlands sea

Captain, o captain, take me on board
And be to me as good as your word
For I've sunk her in the lonesome lowlands low
For I've sunk her in the lowlands sea

Neither will I take you on board
Nor be to you as good as my word
Though you've sunk her in the lonesome lowlands low
Though you've sunk her in the lowlands sea

If it wasn't for the love I have for your men
I would serve you as I've served them
I would sink you in the lonesome lowlands low
I would sink you in the lowlands sea



13. Merry Golden Tree
Almeda Riddle, on Ozark Frontier, Southern Journey Vol.7, The Aalan Lomax Collection, Rounder CD 1707, ballad recorded in 1959

There was a little ship that sailed upon the sea
And the name of that ship was the Merry Golden Tree
A-sailing on the low and lonesome low
A-sailing on the low and lonesome lowland sea

Now she hadn't been out but a week, two or three
Until she sighted the British Robbery
A-sailing on the low and lonesome low
A-flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea

Up stepped the captain, wringing of his hands
A-saying - O Lord and what will we do?
They will sink us in this low and lonesome low
They're going to sink us to the bottom of this lonely sea

A boy then said - O Captain, Captain, what will you give to me
If I just sink this British Robbery?
I'll sink her in the low and lonesome low
I'll sink 'em to the bottom of the lonesome sea

Now it's I'd have wealth and I would have fame
And ever true to my word I have been
If you II sink them in the low and lonesome sea
If you'll sink them in the lonesome sea

I'll give to you wealth, I'll give to you fame
My youngest daughter and you shall married be
If you II sink 'em in the low and lonesome low
If you'll sink 'em to the bottom of the lowland sea

Then he picked up a tool, and jumped overboard
He said - I'll be as good as my word
He was swimming in the low and lonesome low
He went swimming oer the lonesome lowland sea

Then he took his little tool, just made for that use
And he made twelve holes just to let in the juice
She was sinking in the low and lonesome low
She was sinking in the lonesome lowland sea

Sailors off'ed with their coats and some with their caps
They were trying to fill up the salt water gaps
They were sinking in the low and lonesome sea
They were sinking to the bottom of the lonely sea

Then he turned around, and away swam he
Until he came back to the Merry Golden Tree
A-swimming in the low and lonesome low
Still swimming in the lonesome lowland sea

O Captain, are you as good as your word?
Then take this poor sailor man on board
For I'm drownding in this low and lonesome low
I'm a drownding in this lonesome lowland sea

I will not give you wealth, nor give you fame
My youngest daughter has a time-honored name
I'll just leave you in this low and lonesome low
I'll leave you drownding here in this lonely sea

If it was not for your daughter and you being such a man
I'd do, Sir, to you just what I did to them
I'd sink you in this low and lonesome low
I'd sink you to the bottom of this lonely sea

But he turned on his back, and away floated he
Sayin - Fare you well my Merry Golden Tree
I'm drownding in this low and lonesome low
I'm drownding in this lonely lowland sea



14. The Merry Golden Tree
Jean Ritchie, Child Ballads in America, Volume 1, Folkways Records F-2301, 1961

There was a little ship and she sailed upon the sea
And she went by the name of The Merry Golden Tree
As she sailed upon the low and the lonesome low
As she saile'd upon the lonesome sea

There was another ship and she sailed upon the sea
And she went by the name of The Turkish Robbery
As she sailed upon the low and the lonesome low
As she sailed upon the lonesome sea

There was a little cabin boy upon the Golden Tree
Said - Captain, oh Captain, what will you give to me
If I sink then in the low and the lonesome low
If I sink them in the lonesome sea?

Oh a half of my ship shall be made unto thee
And my youngest daughter shall be wed unto thee
If you sink them in the low and the lonesome low
If you sink them in the lonesome sea

He bowed upon his breast and away swum he
Till he come to the ship called The Turkish Robbery
Gonna sink you in the low and the lonesome low
Gonna sink you in the lonesome sea

Then out of his pocket an instrument he drew
And he bored nine holes for to let that water through
For to sink them in the low and the lonesome low
For to sink them in the lonesome sea

(Oh some had hats and some had caps
And they tried for to stop these ferverish water gaps
But he sunk them in the low and the lonesome low
But he sunk them in the lonesome sea

He bowed upon his breast and back swum he
Till he come to the ship called The Merry Golden Tree
As she sailed upon the low and the lonesome low
As she sailed on the lonesome sea

Oh captain, oh captain, pray draw me up on board
Oh captain, oh captain, pray give me my reward
For I've sunk them in the low and the lonesome low
For I've sunk them in the lonesome sea

I'll never draw you up on board
No I've never known a cabinboy to gain such reward
Though you sunk them in the low and the lonesome low
Though you sunk them in the lonesome sea

If it weren't for the love of your daughter and your men
I would do unto you what I've done unto them
I would sink you in the low and the lonesome low
I would sink you in the lonesome sea

He bowed upon his breast and down sunk he
Farewell, farewell to The Merry Golden Tree
For I'm sinkin' in the low and the lonesome low
For I'm sinkin' in the lonesome sea)



15. The Turkish Rebelee
Horton Barker, on Virginia Traditions, Ballads from British Tradition, Global Village CD 1002, ballad recorded in 1939

There was a little ship and she sailed on the sea
And the name of the ship was The Turkish Rebelee
She sailed on the lonely lonesome water
She sailed on the lonesome sea

Up stepped a little sailor, saying – What'll you give to me
To sink that ship to the bottom of the sea
If I'll sink her in the lonely lonesome water
If I'll sink her in the lonesome sea?

I have a house ad I have lands
And I have a daughter that shall be at your command
If you'll sink her in the lonely lonesome water
If you'll sink her in the lonesome sea

He bowed on his breast and away swam he
He swam till he came to the Turkish Rebelee
He sank her in the lonely lonesome water
He sank her in the lonesome sea

Some had hats and some had caps
A-trying to stop the salt water gaps
For she sank in the lonely lonesome water
She sank in the lonesome sea

Some a-playing cards and some a shooting dice
And every stood around a-giving good advice
As she sank in the lonely lonesome water
As she sank in the lonesome sea

He bowed on his breast and away swam he
He swam till he came to the Golden Willow Tree:
I've sunk her in the lonely lonesome water
I've sunk her in the lonesome sea!

Now captain, will you be as good as your word
Or eather will you take me in on board?
I've sunk her in the lonely lonesome water
I've sunk her in the lonesome sea

No I won't be as good as my word
And neither will I take you in on board
'Though you've sunk her in the lonely lonesome water
'Though you've sunk her in the lonesome sea

If it were not for the love I have for your men
I'd do unto you just as I've done unto them
I'd sink in the lonely lonesome water
I'd sink you in the lonesome sea

He bowed on his breast and down sank he
A-bidding farewell to the Golden Willow
He sank in the lonely lonesome water
He sank in the lonesome sea



16. The Turkish Revelee
Paul Clayton, Whaling & Sailing Songs, Tradition TCD 1064, recorded in 1956, original lp release: Whaling and Sailing Songs from the days of Moby Dick TLP 1005 (from Horton Barker's version)

There was a little ship and she sailed on the sea
And the name of our ship was The Turkish Revelee
O she sailed out in that lonely lonesome water
O she sailed on the lonesome sea

Up stepped a little sailor, saying – What'll you give to me
To sink that ship in the bottom of the sea
If I'll sink her in that lonely lonesome water
If I'll sink her in the lonesome sea?

I have a house ad I have land
And I have a daughter that shall be at your command
If you'll sink her in that lonely lonesome water
If you'll sink her in the lonesome sea

He bowed on his breast and away swam he
And he swam till he came to the Turkish Revelee
As she sailed out in that lonely lonesome water
As she sailed on the lonesome sea

He had a little ... all made for the bore
And he bored nine holes in the bottom of the floor
O he sank her in that lonely lonesome water
O he sank her in the lonesome sea

He bowed on his breast and away swam he
And he swam till he came to the Golden Willow Tree
As she sailed in that lonely lonesome water
As she sailed in the lonesome sea

Captain, o captain, will you be as good as your word
Or either take me up on board
For I've sunk her in that lonely lonesome water
O I've sunk her in the lonesome sea

No I won't be as good as my word
Nor neither will I take you up on board
'Though you've sunk her in the lonely lonesome water
'Though you've sunk her in the lonesome sea

If it weren't for the love that I bear unto your men
I'd sink you the same just as I sank them
O I'd sink in that lonely lonesome water
O I'd sink you in the lonesome sea

He bowed on his breast and down sank he
A-bidding farewell to the Golden Willow
O he sank in that lonely lonesome water
O he sank in the lonesome sea



17. Sinking in the Lonesone Sea
The Carter Family, Can The Circle Be Unbroken – The Original Carter Family, Country Music's First family, Columbia/Legacy CK 65707, ballad recorded in 1935

There was a little ship and she sailed upon the sea
And she went by the name of the Merry Golden Tree
As she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
As she sailed upon the lonesome sea

There was a little sailor unto his captain said:
Oh, Captain, Captain, what'll you give to me
If I sink them in the low and lonesome low
If I sink them in the lonesome sea?

Two hundred dollars I will give unto thee
And my oldest daughter I'll wed unto you
If you'll sink them in the low and lonesome low
If you'll sink them in the lonesome sea


He bowed upon his breast and away swam he
Till he came to the ship of the Turkish Revilee
And she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
She sailed upon the lonesome sea

If it wasn't for the love of your daughter and your men
I would do unto you as I did unto them
I would sink you in the low and lonesome low
I would sink you in the lonesome sea

He bowed his head, and down sank he -
Farewell, farewell to the Merry Golden Tree
For I'm sinking in the low and lonesome low
For I'm sinking in the lonesome sea



18. The Golden Vanity
Jody Stecher, Going Up On the Mountain, The Classic First Recordings, Acoustic Disc ACD-39, 2000, recording made in the 70s.

There was a little ship and she sailed upon the sea
And the name of our ship was The Golden Vanity
And she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
Sailed upon the lonesome sea

She had not been out but two weeks or three
When she was overtaken by the Turkish Revelee
As she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
She sailed upon the lonesome sea

Then up spake our little cabin boy
Saying – What will you give to me if I do them destroy
If I sink them in the low and lonesome low
If I sink them in the lonesome sea?

Well, the man that them destroys – our captain then replied
Ten thousand pounds and my daughter for his bride
If you sinks them in the low and lonesome low
If you sinks them in the lonesome sea

Then he leaned upon his breast and out jumped he
He swum till he come to the Turkish Revelee
As she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
Sailed upon the lonesome sea

He had a little tool that was made for the use
He bored nine holes in her hull all at once
He sunk her in the low and lonesome low
Sunk her in the lonesome sea

Captain, pick me up – our cabin boy he cried
O Captain, pick me up for I'm weary with the tide
And I am sinking in the low and lonesome low
Sinking in the lonesome sea

I will not pick you up – our captain then replied
I'll shoot you, I'll drown you, I'll sink you in the tide
I'll sink you in the low and lonesome low
Sink you in the lonesome sea

They picked him up and on the deck he died
O they wrapped him in his hammock that was so long and wide
As we sailed upon the low and lonesome low
As we sailed upon the lonesome sea

Yes, they wrapped him in his hammock, it was so long and wide
Throwed him overboard and he drifted down the tide
And it sank to the low and lonesome low
Sank to the lonesome sea



19. The Golden Vanity
Steeleye Span, recorded it in 1995 during the Time recording sessions, but released on the Park Records samplers The Best of Britsh Folk Rock and A Stroll Through the Park

Oh, I have a ship in the north country
Down in the Lowlands low
And I fear she may be took by the Spanish enemy
Down in the lowland sea

Up on the deck stepped a little cabin boy
Down in the lowlands low
Saying, What will you give me if I do them destroy
And I sink them in the lowland sea?

Oh, I'll give you silver an' I will give you gold
Down in the lowlands low
And my only daughter for to be your bride
if you sink them in the lowland sea
Sink them in the lowlands low

Lowlands low
Lowland sea

Oh wrap me up in my black bear skin
Down in the lowlands low
And throw me overboard for to sink or to swim
An' I'll sink them in the lowland sea

Now some were playing cards and others playing dice
Down in the lowlands low
And the boy he had an auger and he bored two holes at once
And he sunk them in the lowland sea

He leaned upon his breast and he swam back again
Down in the lowlands low
Saying, Master, take me up, for I'm sure I will be slain
And I sunk them in the lowland sea
I sunk them in the lowlands low

Lowlands low
Lowland sea
Lowlands low
Lowland sea

Oh, I'll not take you up, the master he cried
Down in the lowlands low
But I'll shoot you and I'll kill you and I'll send you with the tide
And I'll drown you in the lowland sea

He leaned upon his breast and he swam to the larboard side
Down in the lowlands low
Saying - Messmates, take me up for I fear I have been slain
And I sunk them in the lowland sea

They took him up and on the deck he died
Down in the lowlands low
And they wrapped him up in an old cow's hide
And they sunk him in the lowland sea,
They sunk him in the lowlands low

Lowlands low
Lowland sea…