Looking to ID This Song Lyric (Golden Vanity)

Subject: Looking to ID This Song Lyric
From: JB Michaels
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 11:48 PM

To My colleagues,

For the detectives in all of you, a challenge:

I have this song lyric that has been in my head for over 30 years, and I've never been able to track it down, so I figured this forum HAS TO BE THE BEST PLACE TO FIND IT!

It is a lyric from what sounds like a Scottish or maritime song. I only have lyric fragments from a memory of hearing the song being sung to me during a bus ride when I was six years old...

Here are the lyrics I can remember:

CHORUS: "..sinking in the Lowland, Lowland, Lowland, Sinking in the Lowland Sea."

STORY Something about a rivalry between two men and a woman, where one was going to take this woman "for his bonny, bonny bride" The other man might have been the Captain of this ship that is going down instead of giving her up to this rival, he sank the ship...I THINK...

IF ANYONE has a clue as to the name/music/lyrics for this song, please get in touch with me ASAP!

Thanks JB Michaels [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Looking to ID This Song Lyric
From: Pene Azul
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 11:51 PM

Looks like The Golden Vanity.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Looking to ID This Song Lyric
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 12:38 AM

Three minutes Pene!
Even for the 'cat that pretty good!
BTW, is there a record for quickest answer? If so, this must be a contender.

Subject: RE: Looking to ID This Song Lyric
From: Pene Azul
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 12:41 AM

That's not so fast around here. Sorcha got one in one minute some time ago, and I just got one last night.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Looking to ID This Song Lyric
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 01:52 AM

"Golden Vanity" is Child Ballad #286. If you put #286 in the search box, you'll be amazed at the number of versions we have. Hmmm. some of the results are duplicates - I wonder if Pene can figure out a fix for that...

-Joe Offer (e-mail sent to requestor)-

Subject: RE: Looking to ID This Song Lyric (answered^^^)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 06:51 PM

And check out Gordon Bok's version on Bok/Muir/Trickett, 'The First 15 Years II'. Ab fab!

Subject: Pene, Crazy Eddie, Joe Offer and Suzanne
From: JB Michaels
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 02:53 PM

Pene, Crazy Eddie, Joe Offer and Suzanne (skw),

Thanks for getting back to me, and I must say, Jeff, I AM nomiating your response for Fast 'Cat of the Year!

NOW, the new dilemma: I checked the references in the dabatbase and heard a few versions with a musical file attached. NONE of the music was the melody I remember, and being the avid musician I am, I'm certain of the version I heard and it's melody. Noe of the print versions of the music have the melody I remmeber, either.

So, if you all would give me your email addresses, I'll create a .wav file (somehow) and send it to you, in the hopes that I can complete the information in my head, tie a few strings together, and then put the song on its feet in my club act.

I thank you all for your time and contributions!

Best,

::JB

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Pene, Crazy Eddie, Joe Offer
From: mooman
Date: 15 Oct 01 - 03:57 AM

This is definitely the The Golden Vanity. I may be able to supply the notes or an audio file (as I do it) if someone doesn't beat me to it.

Best regards

mooman

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Pene, Crazy Eddie, Joe Offer
From: MMario
Date: 15 Oct 01 - 09:55 AM

JB - if we have a melody in the DT - then you can go to yet another digital tradition site where the gentleman has made the tunes available in a number of formats, including printable music.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Pene, Crazy Eddie, Joe Offer
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Oct 01 - 12:20 PM

I can't help but feel that it would be more appropriate to continue any discussion in the original thread.

Looking to ID This Song Lyric (answered^^^)

---

Yeah, it would have been better for JB to continue the discussion in the previous thread, but starting another thread isn't the end of the world. I sent JB my e-mail address and asked him to send me a WAV after I get back from the Getaway. It's fascinating how many different tunes there are for "Golden Vanity." Sometime Mudcatter Judy Cook has a great interpretation on her recent CD. Her version is called "The Weeping Willow Tree."
-Joe Offer-

---

Now that I have the ability to combine threads, I did.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Pene, Crazy Eddie, Joe Offer
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Oct 01 - 10:42 AM

the thing about this song is that there are literally dozens of versions, with MANY tune variations and differences in what happened to the crew, the ship, etc...even the # of holes bored in it vary from 3 to dozens...It is one of the more famous and common folk songs there is, and so has been 'processed' more that average.

Funny how 'folks' get this single-minded fervor to re-create songs just like their original memories...*grin*.....but it IS fun...

Subject: RE: Looking to ID This Song Lyric (Golden Vanity)
From: phloodleduck
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 09:01 PM

I'm looking for the title and singer of this ballad. It is a male who plays a guitar and sings solo. One of the other songs has the phrase "damn his eyes." This was the first record that I ever owned. I purchased the record around 1964. I loved this record not only for the talent of the recorder and his wonderful voice, but some of the lyrics contained swear words that I was never to use, such as damn. That is a nothing word today, but in my conservative family it was a BIG deal. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I'm basically computer illiterate, but any suggested web sites or key words that you can supply will be greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: Looking to ID This Song Lyric (Golden Vanity)
From: Susan of DT
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 09:42 PM

THis sounds like Sam Hall. You will do better to start a new thread, Phoodle duck, but look up Sam Hall in the Digital Tradition (search box above) to see whether this is the song you want.