016 - The Lowlands Low (A)

The lilt of the word 'Lowlands' seemed to have a fascination for the shantyman and sailor in general. A very ancient song of the sea sings of the Lowlands of Holland, those of Scottland, and even the Lowlands of Virginia were all woven into the songs of the shantyman. Stan Hugill mentioned is that Capitan Davis ("Sailors' Songs and Shanties" - 1887) gives it as a shanty, but Stan Hugill and many of his shipmates have sung this old song at both capstan and pumps.
The version I will try to recreate is capstan, and I heard it on Stan Hugill's album - "A Salty Fore Topman" (1989).
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 62).


The Lowlands Low (A)

There once was a skipper who was boastin' on the quay,
Oh, I have a ship and a gallant ship is she,
Of all the ships I know. She is far the best to me,
an' she's sailing in the Lowlands Low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, she's sailing in the Lowlands Low!

                     *2*
Oh, I had her built in the North a-counterie,
And I have her christened The "Golden Vanitee".
I armed her and I manned her an' I sent her off to sea
And she's sailing in the lowlands low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, and she's sailing in the lowlands low!

                     *3*
Then up spoke a sailor who had just returned from sea
'Oh, I wuz aboard of the "Golden Vanitee"
When she wuz held in chase by a Spanish piratee
And we sank her in the lowlands low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, and we sank her in the lowlands low!

                     *4*
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 low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, if ye sink her in the lowlands low

                     *5*
'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 low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, if ye sink her in the lowlands low!

                     *6*
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 low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, and he sank'em in the lowlands low!

                     *7*
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 low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, an' he sank'em in the lowlands low!

                     *8*
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 low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, and he sank her in the lowlands low!

                     *9*
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 low."
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, I will sink ye in the lowlands low!

                   *10*
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 low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, and they buried him in the lowlands low!

                   *11*
'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 low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, and they sailed from the lowlands low!

                   *12*
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 low.
    In the Lowlands, Lowlands, and to leave him in the lowlands low!