Subject: RE: Golden Vanity Variants From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 24 Jul 04 - 02:48 PM Roberto has opened Pandora's box- many of these versions, I think, were scattered or referred to in the various threads on this song. The version posted by Amos is essentially the same as the one in "Rise Up Singing," (The Sing Out! Songbook) and some previous issues of Sing Out!. It is a simple telling that is easy to put across to an audience, and would be a worthwhile addition to the DT. I am afraid that it will be lost in the flood of versions now in this thread, and I think it unfortunate hat the thread started by Amos was precipitately closed. Lacking in this plethora of versions of Child 286 are those on which these revisions are based; particularly those in Bronson, "The Singing Tradition....," which are listed under the title "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)." This is unfortunate, since in these are found ideas that singers could refer to as they made up versions suited to their individual style. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GOLDEN WILLOW TREE etc. From: Roberto Date: 24 Jul 04 - 02:26 PM 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… |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity Variants From: Roberto Date: 24 Jul 04 - 02:18 PM Ten recordings of the Golden Vanity (F.J. Child #286): 1. The Golden Vanity Jez Lowe, A Selection from The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, Fellside FECD47, registrazioni 1985, 1993 & 1994. It's I've got a ship in the north country, Down in the Lowlands low An' I fear she may be took by the Spanish enemy, As she sails on the Lowland sea, As she sails in the Lowlands low. And up then stepped a little cabin boy, Down in the Lowlands low Saying, What will you give me if I do them destroy, And sink them in the Lowland sea, And sink them in the Lowlands low? Oh, I'll give you silver and likewise gold, Down in the Lowlands low And my only daughter for to be your bride, If you'll sink them in the Lowland sea, If you'll sink them in the Lowlands low. Oh wrap me up in me black bear skin, Down in the Lowlands low And heave me overboard for to sink or to swim, An' I'll sink them in the Lowland sea, I'll sink them in the Lowlands low. Now some was playing cards and the others playing dice, Down in the Lowlands low And the boy had an auger, bored two holes at once, And he sunk them in the Lowland sea, And he sunk them in the Lowlands low. He leaned upon his breast and he swum back again, Down in the Lowlands low Saying, Master, take me up, for I'm sure I will be slain, An' I've sunk her in the Lowland sea, An' I've sunk her in the Lowlands low. 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 send you with the tide, An' I'll drown you in the Lowland sea, An' I'll drown you in the Lowlands low. He leaned upon his breast and swum round the larboard side, Down in the Lowlands low O messmates, take me up for I fear I will be slain, An' I've sunk her in the Lowland sea, An' I've sunk her in the Lowlands low. His messmates 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, And sunk him in the Lowlands low. 2. The Golden Victory Dodie Chalmers, on Classic Ballads of Britain and Ireland, Storytelling Ballads as included in Francis James Child's English & Scottish Popular Ballads, Volume 2, Rounder 11661-1776-2 (ballad recorded 1952) There was a gallant ship On yon western counterie And the name of that ship Was The Golden Victory As she sailed upon the lowlands low Out spoke the master It's out spoke he: Is there anyone on board That will sink that ship for me And plunge her in the lowlands low? Out spoke the cabin boy Out spoke he: O master, dear master What will you give to me If I sink her in the lowlands low? It's I will give thee silver And I will give thee gold Likewise my oldest daughter So beautiful and bold If you sink her in the lowlands low The boy bent his back And away he did swim With a dagger in his hand For to let the waters in And sink her in the lowlands low Some were playing dominoes And some were playing cards And the water rushing in Gave them all a great surprise For she's sinking in the lowlands low Back swam the cabin boy Back swum he - O master, dear master O please now take me in She's sinking in the lowlands low The master took him in And packed him off to bed, In less than half an hour This poor cabin boy lay dead And he sank her in the lowlands low 3. The Golden Vanity Bill Cameron, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, on The Child Ballads No.2, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Numbers 110-299, The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 5, Topic 12T 161 I had a little ship on the North Counteree She went by the name of the Golden Vanity But I was afraid she'd be taken by the Turkish enemy As we sank her in the lowlands, the lowlands And we sank her in the lowlands low Then up comes a little cabin boy: What would you give me the ships to destroy? First I'd give you silver and then I'd give you gold And you shall have me daughter when I get to the shore So we sank her in the lowlands, the lowlands We sank her in the lowlands low 4. The Golden Vanity Johnny Doughty, on Hidden English, Topic TSCD600, ballad recorded in 1976 A fair ship is mine, called the Golden Vanity And she sails just now by the North Country But I fear that she'll be taken by a Spanish gallalee As we sail by the lowlands low By the lowlands low As we sail by the lowlands low What will you give to me – asked the little cabin boy If I venture to that Spanish ship, the ship that doth annoy? I will wreck the gallalee, you may peace of mind enjoy As we sail by the lowlands low By the lowlands low As we sail by the lowlands low The captain said – Now with you my lad I'll share All my treasure and my wealth, you shall have my daughter fair If this Spanish ship you nobly sink and ease me of my care As we sail by the lowlands low By the lowlands low As we sail by the lowlands low Then boldly the lad, did he leap into the sea And an auger very sharp and thin he carried carefully And he swam the mighty billows till he reached the gallalee Where she sank by the lowlands low By the lowlands low Where she sank by the lowlands low Then back to the ship the little hero hied And he begged the crew to haul him up upon the larboard side You can sink for me, you little dog - the ungrateful captain cried As we sail by the lowlands low Was there ever half a tale so sad as this tale of the sea Where we sailed by the lowlands? By the lowlands low Where we sailed by the lowlands low? 5. The Golden Vanitee Tony Rose, Young Hunting, Trailer LER 2013, 1970 There once was a captain who was boasting on the quay: Oh I have a ship and a gallant ship is she Of all the ships I know she is the best for me And she's sailing in the lowlands low In the lowlands, lowlands She's sailing in the lowlands low Oh, well, I have her built in the North Counterie And I have her christened The Golden Vanitee I armed her and I manned her and I sent her off to sea And she's sailing in the lowlands low In the lowlands, lowlands She's sailing in the lowlands low Oh well, then up stepped a sailor who had just returned from sea Oh I was aboard of the Golden Vanitee When she was held in chase by a Spanish piratee And we sank 'em in the lowlands low In the lowlands, lowlands We sank 'em in the lowlands low Oh well, we had aboard of us a little cabin boy Who said - What will you give me if the gallee I destroy I'll give to you me daughter, she is me pride and joy If you sink them in the lowlands low In the lowlands, lowlands If you sink them in the lowlands low So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide He swam until he came to the rascal pirate's side He climbed on board, he went below, by none was he espied And he sank them in the lowlands low In the lowlands, lowlands He sank them in the lowlands low Oh well, he bore with his auger, he bore once and twice And some was playing cards and some was playing dice But when he let the water in, it dazzled at their eyes And he sank them in the lowlands In the lowlands, lowlands He sank them in the lowlands low Oh yes, some was playing cards and some was playing dice And some was in their hammocks a-sporting with their wives But when he let the water in, it pulled out all their lives And he sank them in the lowlands In the lowlands, lowlands He sank them in the lowlands low So then the cabin boy he swam unto the larboard side Saying - Captain take me up for I am drowning in the tide I'll shoot you and I'll kill you if you claim me child as bride And I'll sink you in the lowlands low In the lowlands, lowlands I'll sink you in the lowlands low So then the cabin boy he swam unto the starboard side Saying – Messmates take me up for I am drifting with the tide They took him up so quickly but when on deck he died And they buried him in the lowlands low In the lowlands, lowlands They buried him in the lowlands low Oh yes, they took him up so quickly but when on deck he died And they sewed him in his hammock that was so strong and wide They said a short prayer over him and dropped him in the tide And they sailed from the lowlands low From the lowlands, lowlands They sailed from the lowlands low Well here's a curse onto the 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 To leave him in the lowlands low 6. The Old Virginia Lowlands Brass Monkey, Sound & Rumour, vocals by Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick, Topic TSCD501 Once there was a skipper he was boasting on the quay Saying - I have a ship and a gallant ship is she Oh I have a ship and a gallant ship is she Of all the ships that I do know she's far the best to me In the old Virginia lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low Oh I had her built in the north country And I had her christened the Golden Vanity Oh I had her christened the Golden Vanity I armed her and I manned her and I sent her off to sea In the old Virginia lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low Then up spoke a sailor who had just returned from sea Oh I served on board of the Golden Vanity Oh I served on board of the Golden Vanity When she was held in chase by a Spanish piratee In the old Virginia lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low And we had on board of us a little cabin boy Who said - What will you give me if the galleon I destroy Oh what will you give me if the galleon I destroy Oh you will get my daughter she is my pride and joy If you sink them in the lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide And he swam and he swam to the rascal pirate's side He swam and he swam to the rascal pirate's side And he climbed on deck and he went below and none did him espy And he sank them in the lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low He bore with his auger he bore once and twice And some were playing cards and some were playing dice The water it flowed in and it dazzled their eyes The water it flowed in and it pulled out all their lives And he sank them in the lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low Well he swam and he swam all to the starboard side Saying - Captain take me up I am drifting with the tide Oh Captain take me up - But so loud the Captain cried I will sink you, I will kill you, you shall not have your bride I will sink you in the lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low The shipmates took him up and on the deck he died They sewed him in his hammock which was so strong and wide They sewed him in his hammock it was so strong and wide They prayed for him, they sang for him, they sunk him in the tide In the old Virginia lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low My curse be on you Captain wherever you may be My curse be on the Captain of the Golden Vanity In waking and in sleeping until your dying day For you gave your oath to him and you did him betray In the old Virginia lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands Lowlands low In the old Virginia lowlands low 7. The Sweet Kumadee Ewan MacColl, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads – vol.2, Folkways FG 3510, 1964 There was a ship sailed frae the north country And the name of the ship was the Sweet Kumadee 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 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 to the bottom o' the sea As we sail on the Lowlands,Lowlands As we sail on the Lowlands low Then oot and spak our cabin-boy and oot spak he Cryin', Captain, o captain,what will ye gie to me If I swim alang the side o' the French gaudie And sink her in the Lowlands,Lowlands And sink her in the Lowlands low? It's I will gi'e ye gowd and I will gi'e ye fee And my eldest dochter your bride for to be If ye'll swim along the side o' the French Gaudie And sink her in the lowlands, lowlands And sink her in the lowlands low Ye'll row me into an auld bull's skin Ye'll tak' me to the side and there ye'll throw me in Wi' my instruments aboot me to the gaudie I will swim And I'll sink her in the lowlands, lowlands I'll sink her in the lowlands low! The boy bent his back and awa' swam he He swan till he cam' to the French Gaudie Wi' his instruments aboot him, he started to mak' free To sink her in the lowlands, lowlands To sink her in the lowlands low 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 it flashed before their eyes And they sank in lowlands, lowlands They 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 The gaudie she lies at the bottom of the road She's lying in the lowlands, lowlands She's lying in the lowlands low I winna throw 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 to 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 to the side o' your Sweet Kumadee And I'll send her to the bottom like the French Gaudie That's lying on the lowlands, lowlands That's lying on the lowlands low! He's thrown to him a rope and they've pu'd him frae the sea And 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 8. 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 9. The Golden Vanity Duncan Williamson, on Travellers' Tales, Volume 2, Songs, stories and ballads from Scottish Travellers, Gabrielle Ijdo, Stanley Robertson & Duncan Williamson, Kyloe 101, 2002 O I have a ship that sails on the sea And she goes by the name of the Golden Vanity But I'll doubt she'll by sunk by a Spanish Galee As I sail round the lowlands low, low As I sail round the lowlands low Then up and spoke a cabin boy A well-spoke lad was he Saying – Captain, O captain, O what would you gi'e If the Spanish Gallee would trouble you no more As you sail round the lowlands low, low As you sail round the lowlands low? O guid gold I would give and silver in store And my pretty little daughter who waits on the shore If the Spanish Gallee would trouble me no more As I sail round the lowlands low, low As I sail round the lowlands low O straight away the cabin boy bared his breast and dived in He held in his hand an auger sharp and thin He held in his hand an auger sharp and thin He went swimming in the lowlands low, low He went swimming in the lowlands low Then he bored and he bored, he bored once or twice For some was playing cards and some was playing dice And the water it rushed in and dazzled till their eyes And he sank 'em in the lowlands low, low And he sank them in the lowlands low Then he swam and he swam, crying – Captain, take me in I am drowning in the lowlands low O throw me a rope, a rope - cried he A rope, O, a rope, you will never get from me For you sunk the Dargle, the Turk of Admiree Now she's lying in the lowlands low, low Now she's lying in the lowlands low So he swam around the starboard side, saying – Messmates, take me in They throwed him a rope and his messmates took him in And they wrapped him up in an old cow skin And they sank him in the lowlands low, low They sank him in the lowlands low 10. The Golden Vanity Martyn Wyndham-Read, on Song Links, A celebration of English Traditional Songs and their Australian variants, Fellside FECD 176D Now there once sailed a ship from the North Amerikee The name that she went sailing by was the Golden Vanity And she was a fine ship as she strolled along the deep As she sailed along the lowlands, the lowlands She sailed along the lowlands low Now the first ship in sight was the Turkish Revelry The captain he was frightened that they'd sink her in the sea The captain he was frightened that they'd sink her in the sea And that they'd send her to the lowlands, the lowlands They'd send her to the bottom of the sea Now the first that jumped up was the little sailor boy Saying - Captain what will you give me if her I do destroy I'll give you gold in store and my daughter when on shore If you send her to the lowlands, the lowlands You send her to the bottom of the sea Well, he grabbed up the auger and overboard jumped he He swam right and left for the Turkish Revelry He bored nine holes in the bottom of the ship And he sent her to the lowlands, the lowlands And he sent her to the bottom of the sea Now he swam back again to the Golden Vanity Saying - Captain pick me up for I'm sinking in the sea Captain pick me up for I'm drowning in the sea And I'm going to the lowlands, the lowlands I'm going to the bottom of the sea Oh no, said the captain, that will never do I'll shoot you or I'll stab you or I'll sink you in the sea I'll shoot you or I'll stab you or I'll drown you in the sea And I'll send you to the lowlands, the lowlands I'll send you to the bottom of the sea He said - Shipmates pick me up for I'm drowning in the sea Shipmates pick me up for I'm drowning in the sea Shipmates pick me up for I'm sinking in the sea And I'm going to the lowlands, the lowlands I'm going to the bottom of the sea Well the shipmates picked him up, it was on he deck he died They rolled him in his old grey shirt and sank him in the tide They rolled him in his old grey shirt and sank him in the tide And they sent him to the lowlands, the lowlands They sent him to bottom of the sea Now a curse on the captain wherever he may roam For taking that poor sailor boy so far away from home For taking that poor sailor boy so far away from home And for sending him to the lowlands, the lowlands For sending him to the bottom of the sea |
Subject: Lyr Add: The Golden Vanity Variant From: Amos Date: 24 Jul 04 - 01:03 PM As far as I have been able to tell this version of The Golden Vanity is not in the DT, although it exists in various places on the Web. IIRC it follows the version sung by Pete Seeger, as well as PP&M. There was a ship that sailed All on the Lowland Sea, And the name of the ship Was the Golden Vanity And they feared she would be taken By the Spanish enemy As she sailed upon the Lowland, Lowland, Low As she sailed upon the Lowland Sea. Then up stepped the cabin boy And boldly outspoke he And he said to the captain, "What would you give to me If I would swim along side Of the Spanish enemy And sink her in the Lowland, Lowland, Low And sink her in the Lowland Sea?" "Oh, I would give you silver And I would give you gold, And my own fairest daughter To have and to hold, If you will swim along side Of our enemy of old And sink her in the Lowland, Lowland, Low And sink her in the Lowland Sea!" The boy he made him ready, Then overboard sprang he, And he swam alongside Of the Spanish enemy And with his brace and auger In her side he bored holes three, And he sank her in the Lowland, Lowland, Low, And he sank her in the Lowland Sea. Then quickly he swam back To the cheering of the crew But the captain would not heed him For his promise he did rue, And he scorned his poor entreatings When loudly he did sue, And he left him in the Lowland, Lowland, Low And he left him in the Lowland Sea. Then quickly he swam round To the Vanity's port side And up to his messmates Full bitterly he cried, "Oh, messmates, draw me up For I'm drifting with the tide, And I'm sinking in the Lowland, Lowland, Low Aye, I'm sinking in the Lowland Sea!" Then his messmates drew him up, But on the deck he died, And they stitched him in his hammock Which was so fair and wide, And they lowered him overboard And he drifted with the tide, And he sank beneath the Lowland, Lowland, Low And he sank beneath the Lowland Sea. A |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: bigJ Date: 30 Jun 99 - 04:53 PM Add:-
Johnny Doughty - "Round Rye Bay for More" LP - Topic 12TS324 (1977) |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: bigJ Date: 30 Jun 99 - 04:48 PM |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Nogs Date: 30 Jun 99 - 03:02 PM John Roberts and Tony Barrand also did a version, sorry, I dont remember the album. |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Sandy Paton Date: 24 Jun 99 - 10:03 PM Has anybody done this yet? It's the listing from Keefer's Folk Index web site. (see the links page here.) The Golden Vanity Rt - Weeping Willow Tree ; Sinking in the Lonesome Sea 1.American Ballads and Songs, Scribners, Bk (1972/1922), p 24 (Lowlands Low) 2.Bok, Gordon;, Ann Mayo Muir & Ed Trickett. Ways of Man, Folk Legacy FSI-068, LP (1978), cut#1.01 3.Brothers Four. Rally 'Round!, Columbia CL 1479, LP (196?), cut#A.04 (Gallant Argosy) 4.Cameron, Bill. Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 5. The Child Ballads, Vol. II, Caedmon TC 1146, LP (1961), cut#B.11 5.Dane, Barbara. Anthology of American Folk Songs, Tradition TR 2072, LP (196?), cut#A.04 (Turkey Reveille/Revery) 6.Dyer-Bennet, Richard. Richard Dyer-Bennet 2, Dyer-Bennet 2, LP (1956), cut#B.07 (Turkey Reveille/Revery) 7.Dyer-Bennet, Richard. Richard Dyer-Bennet No. 5. Requests, Dyer-Bennet 5000, LP (1958), cut#A.02 8.Ives, Burl. Ballads, United Artists UAL 3060, LP (1959), cut#A.06 (Turkey Reveille/Revery) 9.Jones, David. Easy and Slow, Minstrel JD-201, LP (1975), cut# 1 10.Kimble Family. Carroll County Pioneers, Marimac 9036, Cas (1992), cut# 14 (Golden Chain Tree) 11.MacColl, Ewan; and Peggy Seeger. Matching Songs of the British Isles and America, Riverside RLP 12-637, LP (196?), cut# 2 12.McCloud, Paralee. Folk Visions & Voices. Traditional Music & Song in North Georgia, University of Georgia, Bk (1983), p 10 (Little Ship) 13.McNeil, Brownie. Folksongs, Sonic, LP (195?), cut# 2 (Turkey Reveille/Revery) 14.Mitchell, Chad; Trio. Chad Mitchell Trio at the Bitter End, Kapp KL 1281, LP (196?), cut#B.02 15.New Lost City Ramblers. New Lost City Ramblers, Disc D 102, LP (196?), cut# 10 (Lonesome Sea) 16.Phipps Family. Phipps Family, Folkways FA 2375, LP (1965), cut# 9 (Golden Merry Tree) 17.Red Clay Ramblers. Stolen Love, Flying Fish FF-009, LP (1975), cut# 4 18.Reed, Susan. O Love Is Teasin', Elektra BLP-12051, LP (1985), cut#1.06 19.Riddle, Almeda. Folk Songs from the Ozarks, Prestige International INT 25006, LP (196?), cut# 1 (Merry Golden Tree) 20.Riddle, Almeda. Southern Journey. Vol. 7: Ozark Frontier, Rounder 1707, CD (1997), cut# 5 (Merry Golden Tree) 21.Ritchie, Jean. British Traditional Ballads in the Southern Mountains (Vol. 1), Folkways FA 2301, LP (1961), cut# 7 (Merry Golden Tree) 22.Scott and Stanley. Hard Times in the Country, Talkeetna TR 100, LP (1974), cut#A.07 23.Seeger, Peggy; and Ewan MacColl - Use MacColl, Ewan; and .... Everybody Sing, Vol 3., Riverside RLP-1420, LP (196?), cut#B.04b 24.Seeger, Pete. American Ballads, Folkways FA 2319, LP (1957), cut# 7 25.Stecher, Jody. Going Up on the Mountain, Bay 210,
I seem to have lost the cut# from the end of this listing. However, it's a pretty good list and might help you to compare versions. |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: bbc Date: 24 Jun 99 - 09:44 PM I like the Bok, Muir, Trickett version on their The Ways of Man recording. bbc |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Art Thieme Date: 24 Jun 99 - 02:01 AM Sandy, I'll never forget Horton Barker at the very first University of Chicago Folk Festival--1961. He had that huge audience in the palm of his hand singing unaccompanied ballads. Sandy did a solo performance there that year. It was before we knew what a fine singer Caroline was. That same year (I think) Horton was back in Chicago to do a solo concert in Old Town at the old LaSalle School. Joan Baez was also in town and she went to Horton's concert. He called her up on stage and they did an a capella duet harmony version of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot". It brought down the house. You wouldn't figure those two voices would work together, but they sure did! Horton Barker stood as straight as a ramrod on stage and always wore a suit when he performed. He was 86 years old then if I remember right. Art |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Sandy Paton Date: 23 Jun 99 - 11:37 PM Horton Barker, 73-year-old blind ballad singer from Chilhowie, Virginia, recorded a version for me that was included on the LP of his songs that was issued on Folkways before we started Folk-Legacy. It should be available in one form or another (custom cassette, for example) from Smithsonian/Folkways. Horton was one hellova singer! Sandy |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Art Thieme Date: 23 Jun 99 - 11:05 PM WHOOPS---I'm at: folkart@ivnet.com Art Thieme |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Art Thieme Date: 23 Jun 99 - 11:03 PM Don, thanks a bunch. It's great to hear that. My version of "Golden Vanity" was available on a cassette put out by the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas called _Art Thieme-Live At Winfield_ (circa '84) Cathy Fink produced it along with Bob Redford of that great festival. I's way out of print---but if Janice D. would like it, I can dub it for her for a small fee. ($11.00) Sorry for these blatent plugs lately for my things, but people have been asking about song's I've done & far be from me not to mention stuff that's out there and getable. Art Thieme |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: DonMeixner Date: 23 Jun 99 - 10:53 PM My favorite version of this song is by Art Thieme. I've never heard a version quite like his. Don |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Barry Finn Date: 23 Jun 99 - 10:43 PM There's also another recording Folk Songs of the United States, Library of Congress, "Anglo -American Ballads" LP#7. By the time this song reached the mountains the original galley (a sailing vessel with auxiliary sweep oars) had gone from Galilee to the British Roverie. Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618), buccaneer & pirate along with his half brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, & his son were not as lucky or good at their trade as they were famous for some of their exploits. After 13 years in the Tower of London under sentence of death, for political intrigue, he was released & headed out to command another domed expedition, his son was killed & upon return his original sentence of death was invoked & he was hung. The earlier of the ballads (c.1635) was called "Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing In The Lowlands (Shewing how the famous Ship called the Sweet Trinity was taken by a false Gally & how it was again restored by the craft of a little Sea-boy, who sunk the Gally)". There is no tune given & S.Frank in his 'Book Of Pirate Songs' says that it is doubtful that it was ever much in circulation in it's original form in popular tradition. If you want these words let me knoe & I'll post them. Barry |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Susan of DT Date: 23 Jun 99 - 08:06 PM Ewan MacColl English & Scottish Folk Ballads David Jones Easy & Slow Folk Songs of Britain, vol. 5 Cisco Houston Gordon Bok et al Ways of Man |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Chris Seymour Date: 23 Jun 99 - 07:18 PM Rory Block recorded a version. I'm also learning a North Carolina version from a friend -- I'll ask him if it's recorded and get back here if it is. Chris Seymour |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Joe Offer Date: 23 Jun 99 - 02:45 PM You will find a number of recordings listed in Folk Music - an Index to Recorded Resources. Also check there for recordings of Weeping Willow Tree and Sinking in the Lonesome Sea. Here's Sweet Kumadee. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Wally Macnow Date: 23 Jun 99 - 02:07 PM You can find a version on the Fellside recording A Selection From The Penguin Book Of English Folk Songs Wally |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Joe Offer Date: 23 Jun 99 - 12:50 PM This song is Child #286. If you put #286 in the search box on this page, you come up with 9 versions, and I'll betcha there are many others that didn't get the Child Ballad tag when they were entered in the database or the Forum. hey, this could be just like one of those puzzle pictures - "see how many of your animal friends you can find in this picture.... There was a less-than-fruitful discussion of "Kumadee" here, of "Vanity" here and here. "Lowlands, Low" is not related, but easily confused here and here. That should give us a start. -Joe Offer- Here's the lengthy entry for this song in the Traditional Ballad Index: Golden Vanity, The [Child 286]DESCRIPTION: A ship is threatened by a foreign galley. The ship's cabin boy, promised gold and the captain's daughter as wife, sinks the galley. He comes back to his ship; the captain will not take him from the water. (The ending is variable)AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: c. 1685 (broadside) KEYWORDS: sea battle death promise lie abandonment HISTORICAL REFERENCES: c. 1552-1618 - Life of Sir Walter Raleigh (one of whose ships was named "The Sweet Trinity") FOUND IN: Britain(England(All),Scotland(Aber,Bord)) Ireland US(All) Canada(Mar,Newf,Ont) REFERENCES (86 citations): Child 286, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (3 texts, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #52, #55} Bronson 286, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (111 versions+1 in addenda) BronsonSinging 286, "The Golden Vanity" (7 versions: #2, #27, #43, #71, #74, #94, #102) Greig #116, p. 1, "The Lowlands O"; Greig #119, p. 2, "The Lowlands Low" (2 texts) GreigDuncan1 37, "The Golden Vanity" (5 texts, 4 tunes) {D=Bronson's #13} Ord, pp. 450-451, "The Lowlands Low" (1 text) Broadwood/Maitland, pp. 182-183, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) Williams-Thames, pp. 199-200, "The Golden Vanitee" (1 text) (also Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 444) Reeves-Circle 51, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text) RoudBishop #9, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) OShaughnessy-Lincolnshire 7, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) BarryEckstormSmyth pp. 339-347, "The Golden Vanity" (4 texts plus 2 fragments, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #108, #66} Flanders-Ancient4, pp. ,188-263 "The Sweet Trinity or the Golden Vanity" (39 texts plus 11 fragments, 18 tunes) {E=Bronson's #71, HH=#64} Ford-Vagabond, pp. 103-106, "The Goulden Vanitee" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #53} Belden, pp. 97-100, "The Golden Vanity" (3 texts) Randolph 38, "The Lowlands Low" (4 texts plus a fragment, 3 tunes) {A=Bronson's #69, D=#48, E=#51} Randolph/Cohen, pp. 56-59, "The Lowlands Low" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 38A) {Bronson's #69} AbrahamsRiddle, pp. 142-146, "The Golden Willow Tree" (1 text, 1 tune, plus some excerpts) Davis-Ballads 47, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (4 texts plus 2 fragments, 1 tune entitled "The Turkish-Rogherlee and the Yellow Golden Tree, or Lowlands Low") {Bronson's #109} Davis-More 43, pp. 339-343, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (1 text, 1 tune) BrownII 47, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (3 texts plus mention of 2 more) BrownSchinhanIV 47, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (6 excerpts, 6 tunes) Chappell-FSRA 21, "The Green Willow Tree" (2 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #50} JonesLunsford, pp. 196-197, "Merrie Golden Tree" (1 text, 1 tune) Morris, #174, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (2 texts) Hudson 25, pp. 125-127, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (1 text) Moore-Southwest 56, "There Was a Little Ship" (1 text, 1 tune) Owens-2ed, pp. 38-40, "The Merry Golden Tree" (1 text, 1 tune) Bronner-Eskin1 5, "Golden Willow Tree" (1 text, 1 tune) Boswell/Wolfe 20, pp. 37-39, "There Was a Ship Sailing" (1 text, 1 tune) Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 184-189, "The Sweet Trinity; The Golden Vanity" (2 texts; the first, with no title, is from Randolph; the second has local title "The Golden Willow Tree"; 1 tune on pp. 406-407) {Bronson's #107} Shellans, pp. 62-63, "The Lonesome Sea Ballad" (1 text, 1 tune) Rosenbaum, p. 10, "The Little Shipi" (1 text, 1 tune) Brewster 25, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (3 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #68} Gardner/Chickering 82, "The Lowlands Low" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #110, related to "The Arkansas Traveller"} Flanders/Brown, pp. 230-231, "The Green Willow Trees" (1 text) Linscott, pp. 136-137, "The Gallant Victory or Lowlands Low" (1 short text, with no hint of the Captain's refusal to save the boy; he is hauled aboard and dies, 1 tune) Creighton/Senior, pp. 101-106, "The Sweet Trinity, or The Golden Vanity" (3 texts plus 2 fragments, 4 tunes) {Bronson's #44, #17, #19, #18} Creighton-NovaScotia 10, "Sweet Trinity; or The Golden Vanity" (1 text, called "Golden Vallady" by the singer, 1 tune) {Bronson's #21} Creighton-SNewBrunswick 6, "The Golden Vanity" (2 texts, 2 tunes) Greenleaf/Mansfield 19, "The Golden Vanitie" (2 fragments) Colcord, pp. 154-156, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #45} Harlow, pp. 35-36, "Golden Vanitee" (1 text, 1 tune) Hugill, pp. 62-64, "Lowlands Low" (3 texts, 3 tunes) [AbEd, pp. 58-60] Logan, pp. 42-46, "The Goulden Vanitie (Golden Vanity, or the Low Lands Low)" (2 texts) Leach, pp. 667-670, "The Sweet Trinity or The Golden Vanity" (3 texts) Leach-Heritage, pp. 89-90, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text) Leach-Labrador 8, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) Wyman-Brockway I, p. 72, "The Mary Golden Tree, or The Lonesome Low" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #37} Cambiaire, pp. 93-94, "The Merry Golden Tree" (1 text) Ritchie-Southern, pp. 74-75, "Lonesome Sea" (1 text, 1 tune) {cf. Bronson's #41, which is also by Jean Ritchie and uses the same tune but a different title and slightly different words} McNeil-SFB1, pp. 34-36, "The Green Willow Tree" (1 text, 1 tune) Friedman, p. 409, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text) FSCatskills 67, "The Bold Trellitee" (1 text, 1 tune) OBB 132, "The 'Golden Vanity'" (1 text) Warner 104, "Lowland Low (or, The Golden Willow Tree)" (1 text, 1 tune) Peters, pp. 108-109, "A Ship Set Sail for North America" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #85} SharpAp 41, "The Golden Vanity" (7 texts plus 3 fragments, 11 tunes) {Bronson's #94, #93, #88, #104, #43, #46, #78, #90, #99, #39, #106} Sharp-100E 14, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #1} Niles 61, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (1 text, 1 tune) Sharp/Karpeles-80E 28, "The Weeping Willow Tree (The Golden Vanity)" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #94} Vaughan Williams/Lloyd, pp. 46-47, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #35} Scott-BoA, pp. 138-139, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) Fowke/Mills/Blume, pp. 38-40, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) Fowke/MacMillan 82, "The 'Green Willow Tree'" (1 text, 1 tune) Karpeles-Newfoundland 23, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text fragment, 1 tune) Fowke-Ontario 4, "The Golden Vanity"; Fowke-Ontario 61, "The Green Willow Tree" (2 texts, 2 tunes) Lomax-Singing, pp. 210-212, "The Low-Down, Lonesome Low" (1 text, 1 tune) Lomax-FSNA 95, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) {should be Bronson's #73, but heavily reworked} Chase, pp. 120-121, "The Merry Golden Tree" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #74} Abrahams/Foss, pp. 79-80, "Golden Willow Tree" (1 text, 1 tune) LPound-ABS, 10, pp. 24-26, "The Lowlands Low" (1 text) JHCox 32, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (2 texts plus a fragment) JHCoxIIA, #15A-C, pp. 64-69, "The Golden Vanity," "The Mary Golden Lee," "The Green Willow Tree" (3 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #38, which -- despite Cox -- he calls "The Weeping Willow Tree"; this version has two American ships "The Weeping Willow Tree" and "The Golden Silveree"} Coleman/Bregman, pp. 16-17, "The Golden Willow Tree" (1 text, 1 tune) Hubbard, #18, "The Golden Vanity" (2 texts, 1 tune) Ashton-Sailor, #75, "Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing in the Low-lands" (1 text) Darling-NAS, pp. 64-66, "The Sweet Trinity"; "The Golden Willow Tree" (1 text plus a fragment) Fireside, p. 172, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) Silber-FSWB, p. 213, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text) BBI, ZN2370, "Sir Walter Rawleigh ha's built a Ship" DT 286, VANTYGL1* VANTIGL2* VANTIGL3* VANTIGL4* (VANTYGL9) ADDITIONAL: John Ashton, _A Century of Ballads_, Elliot Stock, London, 1887; reprinted 1968 by Singing Tree Press, pp. 201-204, "Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing in the Low-Lands" (1 text) James P. Leary, Compiler and Annotator, _Wisconsin Folklore_ University of Wisconsin Press, 2009, article "Kentucky Folksong in Northern Wisconsin" by Asher E. Treat, pp. 229-230, "A Ship Set Sail for North America" (1 text, 1 tune, sung by Mrs. M. G. Jacobs, Maud Jacobs, Pearl Jacobs Borusky) {Bronson's #85} Walter de la Mare, _Come Hither_, revised edition, 1928; #411, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text) Henry Randall Waite, _Carmina Collegensia: A Complete Collection of the Songs of the American Colleges_ first edition 1868, expanded edition, Oliver Ditson, 1876, p. 58, "Lowlands" (a two-verse fragment, on of which is from "The Golden Vanity" and the other about "Pompey" although it's too short to know which Pompey song is meant) ST C286 (Full) Roud #122 RECORDINGS: Almanac Singers, "The Golden Vanity" (General 5016B, 1941; on Almanac02, Almanac03, AlmanacCD1) Horton Barker, "The Turkish Rebilee" (on Barker01) {Bronson's #74} Justus Begley, "Golden Willow Tree" (AFS, 1937; on KMM) Bill Cameron, "The Golden Vanity" (on FSB5) {Bronson's #10} The Carter Family, "Sinking In The Lonesome Sea" (Conqueror 8644/Okeh 03160, 1936; Columbia 37756) {Bronson's #73} Dodie Chalmers, "The Golden Victory (The Golden Vanity) (on FSBBAL2) {Bronson's #33} Johnny Doughty, "The Golden Vanity" (on JDoughty01, HiddenE) Warde Ford, "The Lowlands Low" [fragment] (AFS 4194 A2, 1938; in AMMEM/Cowell) {Bronson's #20} Sam Hazel, "The Golden Willow Tree" (AFS 2095 B2, 3096 A, 3096 B1, 1939) [Mrs.?] Ollie Jacobs, "A Ship Set Sail for North America" (AFS, 1941; on LC58) {Bronson's #86} Paul Joines, "Green Willow Tree" (on Persis1) Joe Kelly, "The Golden Vanity" (on Ontario1) Paralee McCloud, "The Little Ship" (on FolkVisions1) Jimmy Morris, "The Golden Willow Tree" (AFS, 1937; on LC58) {Bronson's #105} New Lost City Ramblers, "Sinking in the Lonesome Sea" (on NLCR06, NLCR11) Frank Proffitt, "Lowlands Low" [excerpt] (on USWarnerColl01) Almeda Riddle, "Merry Golden Tree" (on LomaxCD1707) Jean Ritchie, "The Merry Golden Tree" (on JRitchie01) {Bronson's #41} Pete Seeger, "The Golden Vanity" (on PeteSeeger16) (Commodore 3006, n.d. -- but this may be the same recording as the General disc by the Almanac Singers) Rob Walker, "The Lowlands Low" [fragment] (AFS 4194 A3, 1938; in AMMEM/Cowell) {Bronson's #49} Doug Wallin, "The Golden Vanity" (on Wallins1) BROADSIDES: Bodleian, Harding B 11(1086), "The Golden Vanity" or "The Low Lands Low," H. Such (London), 1849-1862 NLScotland, L.C.Fol.70(122a), "Lowlands Low," Poet's Box (Glasgow), 1877; also L.C.Fol.70(103b), "Lowlands Low" CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "Louisiana Lowlands" (lyrics) SAME TUNE: Sinking of the Great Ship (BrownII, #287, pp. 662-663, the "A" text) ALTERNATE TITLES: The Lonesome Low The Merry Golden Tree The Sweet Kumadee The Weep-Willow Tree The Turkish Revoloo Cabin Boy Lowland Sea Ye Gowden Vanitie NOTES: Connecting this song with actual events is impossible even if one accepts Sir Walter Raleigh as the murderous captain. The following dates may, however, provide some guidelines: 1453 - Fall of Constantinople gives the Turks good access to the Mediterranean (Lowland) Sea. 1571 - Battle of Lepanto cripples the Turkish navy. 1588 - Voyage of the Spanish Armada. Spanish navy crippled. As far as I know, every version lists the enemy as Spanish, Turkish, or French. It should be noted, however, that the Barbary pirates were often called "Turks," since the Ottoman Empire had (often nominal) soveriegnty over them. Incidentally, while this song does not have a historical setting, the plot has historical antecedents; Bowers, p. 24 and note, mentions a 1605 pamphlet, "Two most unnatural and bloodie Murthers: The one by Maister Cauerly... the other by mistris Browne and her servant Peter." Apparently Peter, a servant, had been promised land and the girl's hand; when her father reneged, the young couple turned to murder. The sinking of a ship by a youth is also apparently attested: Rodger, p. 46, says that a Saracen vessel threatened the fleet of Richard I on his way to the Third Crusade, but that one report claims it was sunk by a boy with an auger. Unfortunately, Rodger does not cite any primary sources for this account, and I don't believe sinking a ship with an auger is actually possible (by that time, ships had pumps and carpenters to plug leaks). I suspect that one of Rodger's sources actually heard a distorted version of this song. Somewhat later, at the Battle of Sluys in 1340, the English fleet of Edward III "even [had] divers who tried to sink the enemy ships by boring holes in their hulls below water," according to Seward, p. 44. Sluys was a great English victory, but if the divers accomplished anything, I haven't heard of it. - RBW In Fowke-Ontario 4 the drowned cabin boy returns as a ghost and -- never having said he would not sink it -- sinks the captain's ship. - BS Bibliography
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Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: MichaelM Date: 23 Jun 99 - 10:36 AM Have a listen to the Friends of Fiddler's Green album (now on CD) "This Side of The Ocean". Nice version with the late David Parry taking the lead. Michael |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Steve Parkes Date: 23 Jun 99 - 09:45 AM Aka "The merry golden tree". I'm fascinated by the way the name changes as the song travels around. Be sure to post all the versions you find to the DT, if they're not already there. Steve |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: John Hindsill Date: 23 Jun 99 - 09:32 AM You will also want to look under the title Turkey Reveille for this song and similar related titles. My favorite version of Golden Vanity is by PP&M recorded in late 80s early 90s on "Flowers & Stones" CD. Aversion by Bash Kennett in "Songs of Ship & Shore" (probably out of print) has a varient ending. Good luck on your research---John |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Roger in Baltimore Date: 23 Jun 99 - 09:12 AM Odetta recorded it. She varied the melodic line quite a bit. It would be a very old recording from the '60's. Roger in Baltimore |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Bert Date: 23 Jun 99 - 08:50 AM Lonnie Donnegan did a version that was a bit different. |
Subject: Golden Vanity From: Janice D. Date: 23 Jun 99 - 08:36 AM Hi folks -I'm doing research on the song "Golden Vanity" in all its different variations and need some suggestions on recorded sources, anybody know and can recommend a record or CD with a variant of this song on it? Thanks Janice Dunkirk |
Subject: RE: Golden Vanity From: Bruce O. Date: 07 Dec 97 - 03:57 PM The earliest known version is the broadside ballad coded index as ZN2370 in my broadside index on the internet.This is at www.pbm.com/~lindahl/ballads/17thc_index.html The licensing statement 'This may be Printed. R. L. S' was used only from about June to November of 1685. |
Subject: Golden Vanity From: Gene Smith Date: 07 Dec 97 - 12:34 AM I recently came across a reference to the history of the song we know as Golden Vanity, but I have lost the reference. Does anyone know a good source to look in, and/or the song's history? If I remember right, it is quite old and went through several rewrites before assuming the form we recognize today. Any clues? |
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