Nautical phrase 'Lowland maids'

Subject: Nautical phrase 'Lowland maids'
From: radriano
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 02:43 PM

Is the phrase "Lowland maids" traditional? There are quite a few songs that mention "sailing to the Lowlands" but does "Lowlands" refer to any particular country?

There's a version of "Lowlands Away" in F. Tozer's book, "Sailors' Songs or 'Chanties', 1910" that includes the phrase "Lowland maids" and then "Lowland men". I have not seen this phrasing in other versions of "Lowlands Away."

I'm refering to the shanty that starts off with:

I dreamt a dream the other night
Lowlands, lowlands away, my John
I dreamt I saw my own true love
My Lowlands away

Subject: RE: Nautical phrase 'Lowland maids'
From: Padre
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 04:04 PM

'Lowlands' often referred to Holland. There is an old song with the line 'The Lowlands of Holland.' It could also refer to the countries along the Baltic or the North Sea (Germany/Poland)

Subject: RE: Nautical phrase 'Lowland maids'
From: GUEST,lighter
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 04:06 PM

The "Lowlands" most likely refers historically to Holland (aka the Netherlands), one of the "Low Countries," but the song "The Lowlands of Holland" seems to refer instead to the Dutch East Indies ("where the sugar can is plentiful, and tea grows on each tree," in Paddy Tunney's version). Other songs mention the "old Viginia lowlands" and the "Lowland Sea" (near Holland, maybe). Then there's the fiddle tune, "Billy in the [unidentified] Lowlands" (or Low Ground).   

Davis & Tozer evidently prettified and rewrote many of their shanties.
They may be entirely responsible for the "maids."

Subject: RE: Nautical phrase 'Lowland maids'
From: MMario
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 04:07 PM

I've been told that the Atlantic coast along the Sea Islands of Georgia were also known as the "low country"

Subject: RE: Nautical phrase 'Lowland maids'
From: radriano
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 05:19 PM

Yes, GUEST,lighter, I've also heard that the Davis & Tozer collection contained some "prettified" shanties. Their version of "Lowlands Away" may be one of those. And I can't think of any other shanties that contain the phrase "Lowland maids" or "Lowland men."