Lyr Req: duncan williamson's golden vanity

Subject: Lyr Add: GOLDEN VANITY (Duncan Williamson)
From: Roberto
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 05:11 AM

Please, help me to complete (and correct) this text, from the singing of DUNCAN WILLIAMSON. The Golden Vanity (F.J. Child n.286), on Travellers' Tales, Volume 2, Songs, stories and ballads from the Scottish Travellers, Kyloe 101. THE PROBLEMS ARE IN THE 4th STANZA (I expected something like "he bent his breast", but it sounds like "beard his best") AND IN THE 7th STANZA. Please, don't let this post go down without an answer: it is a beautiful recording. Thanks. R

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 on the lowlands low, low
As I sail on the lowlands low

Then up and spoke our cabin boy
A well-spoke lad was he
Saying – Captain, O captain, O what will you give
If the Spanish Gallee would trouble you no more
As you sail on the lowlands low, low
As yu sail on 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 on the lowlands low, low
As I sail on the lowlands low

O straight away the cabin boy ... his best (??????) 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 'em in the lowlands low

Then he swam and he swan, 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 sank ...(?????) the Turk ...(admiry????)
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

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: duncan williamson's golden vanity
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 01:29 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: duncan williamson's golden vanity
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 08:54 AM

Not certain of this particular version. However, I have heard versions htat clearly state "Bared his breast" which:
a) makes sense - and
b) sounds closer to the line you heard.

"Bent" and "Beat" are also used in a great many songs (prios to running or swimming).

Dave.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: duncan williamson's golden vanity
From: Roberto
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 12:22 PM

Thank you, DG&D Dave, "bared his breast" can be OK (although it sounds "best" to me). Please, someone for the seventh stanza. No Mudcatter owns this beautiful CD (and its companion)? Duncan Williamson and Stanley Robertson are worth listening to. Please, don't let this file remain unanswered. Is Malcolm Douglas on strike? Has Stewie retired? Thanks to Katlaughing for the "refresh". This is the last call for The Golden Vanity as sung by Duncan Williamson. R

Subject: Lyr Add: GOLDEN VANITY (from Duncan Williamson)
From: Noreen
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 11:37 AM

The following is what I hear from the recording Roberto sent me:

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 Dargirl, the Turk of Admiry
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


In The Turkish Reverie , Malcolm Douglas lists many names of the doomed ship, and links to many versions of this song.