Subject: ADD: Frank Proffitt's Lowland Low (#286)
From:
Joe Offer
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 06:36 AM
Here's the full printed version, Roberto. I hope it helps. Your transcription seems exactly like the recording, except for the correction Mick added. Unfortunately, Sandy Paton did not record Frank Proffitt singing this song of the Folk-Legacy album.
-Joe Offer-
Lowland Low (or, The Golden Willow Tree)
There was a little ship in south Amerikee
Was known by the name of the Golden Willow Tree
And she sailed on the lowlands, lonesome low,
For she sailed on the lowland sea.
Now she had not been a-sailing, not very long,
In weeks not more than three,
Until they spied a ship all sailing high,
And it was the Turkish Robberee.
"Oh, what shall I do! Oh, what shall I do!"
Our jolly well captain, cried he,
"I a-feared we all will be took by the Turkish Robberee
And be sunk in the lowland sea."
Up steps a little man, "What will you give to me
For to sink her in the lowland, lonesome sea,
To sink her in the lowlands, lonesome low,
If I sink her in the lowland sea?"
"I have at home houses and lands,
Also my youngest daughter will be at your command,
If you'll sink her in the lowlands, lonesome low,
If you'll sink her in the lowland sea."
All down in the briny deep swum he,
He swum beneath the Turkish Robberee,
All a-sailing high on the lowlands low,
Sailing so high on the lowland sea.
He took a little instrument just for the use,
And cut him nine gashes in the salt water juice,
And he sunk her in the lowlands, lonesome low,
He sunk her in the lowland sea.
Back he comes a-swimmin', back comes he,
Back to the side of the Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed upon the lowlands, lonesome low,
As she sailed upon the lowland sea.
"Have you made the writ to your houses and lands,
And vowed for me to have your fair daughter's hand?
For I've sunk her in the lowlands, lonesome low,
I've sunk her in the lowland sea."
"A fool only gives of his houses and lands,
And his youngest daughter to be at your command.
You can go sink in the lowlands, lonesome low
You can sink in the lowland sea."
Up he went and down went he until the count of three,
Then he sunk to the bottom of the lowland sea.
He sank in the lowlands, lonesome low,
He sank in the lowland sea.
as sung by Frank Proffitt, 1959
source: Traditional American Folk Songs from the Anne & Frank Warner Collection
tune available, if you ask me.
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