Thirty Year Mystery [Lowlands of Holland]

Subject: Thirty Year Mystery
From: Duke
Date: 12 May 06 - 03:28 PM

About 40 years ago, I learned a version of The Lowlands of Holland from a friend, Jim McCarthy. I have lost the lyrics to this song and was hoping someone would know this particular version.

When I went out on one may morn down by the riverside,
there I beheld a fair young maid all then to be my bride.
Ah then to be my bride, me boys, and .................

That's were I lose the words. Hope someone can help me. I've gone through many data bases but have never seen this version.

thanks

Subject: RE: Thirty Year Mystery
From: beardedbruce
Date: 12 May 06 - 03:30 PM

you have looked at these, here?
The Digitrad Results

0.8510 - THE LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND (10)
0.8351 - LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND 5
0.8351 - LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND 4
0.8351 - LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND 3
0.8351 - THE LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND
0.7967 - LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND 6
0.7967 - LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND 2
0.7742 - THE LILY OF ARKANSAS
0.7742 - OUR SHIP SHE LIES IN HARBOUR
0.7742 - LOWLANDS OF MISSOURI
0.7742 - BOLD JACK DONOHUE
0.7742 - ALL THINGS ARE QUITE SILENT

Subject: RE: Thirty Year Mystery
From: Duke
Date: 13 May 06 - 12:48 PM

I've checked so many places that I had pretty much given up until I thought about making a post here. I guess I'll just keep looking.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND
From: GUEST,RTim
Date: 13 May 06 - 02:14 PM

How about the version below from Hampshire (appears in one of Purslow's books of the Gardiner collection) This version I learnt from Dave Williams and he recordeed it on Folk Songs from Hampshire - just reissued on CD (With additional new tracks) by Forest Tracks Records see - www.forest-tracks.co.uk
Tim R.

THE LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND
(William Bone, Medstead, Hants – Child 92)

As I walked out one May morning down by a riverside
Twas there I spied a fair pretty maid
oh then to be my bride
Oh then to be my bride my boys
the chambers to behold
May the heavens above protect
my love a jolly seaman bold.

I'll build my love a gallant ship a ship of noble fame
With a 100 & 70 sailorlads all for to box the main
With a 100 & 70 sailorlads without any fear or doubt
With my true love in that gallant
ship I was sadly tossed about.

The anchor & the cable went overboard straightway
The mainmast & the rigging lay buried in the sea
Twas tempest & bad weather & the raging of the sea
I never never had but one true love
and he was drowned at sea.

Said the father to his daughter
what makes you so lament
There is a lad in our town
that can give your hearts content
There is not a lad in our town
Neither lord nor duke said she
Since the raging sea & stormy winds
parted my love from me.

No handkerchief shall bind my head,
no comb go thru my hair
No candlelight or fire bright shall view my beauty fair
And neither shall I married be until the day I die
Since the low lowlands of Holland parted my love and I.

Subject: RE: Thirty Year Mystery
From: Peace
Date: 13 May 06 - 10:07 PM

Try these .

Scroll down.

Subject: RE: Thirty Year Mystery [Lowlands of Holland]
From: nutty
Date: 14 May 06 - 04:14 AM

I learnt this particular version years ago as well, so was very happy to find a copy of the broadside here in the Bodleian Library.

The Maiden's Complaint for the loss of her Sailor


Printer:         Evans, J. (London)
Date:                between 1780 and 1812

Subject: RE: Thirty Year Mystery [Lowlands of Holland]
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 14 May 06 - 04:41 AM

There's an interesting version of 'The Lowlands of Holland' on MacColl & Seeger's 'The Long Harvest' set on Argo (Record 10, ZDA 75). The first verse is as follows:

One evening as I walked out down by a river side,
There came that way a captain gay would have me for his bride.
'O pretty maid', to me he said, 'I bid thee be my wife.'
'I thank you sir, but I prefer to lead a single life.'

According to the record notes this version is "from the singing of J. Watts, Alder Thrushelton, 1893" and is printed in Bronson Vol. II.

Not the version you are looking for, of course, but when I saw your post I was convinced that I knew it from somewhere. I then dragged my collection of LPs out of the loft and dredged through it and it seemed a shame to waste all that effort ...

While I'm here - when is someone going to put 'The Long Harvest' on to CD?

Subject: RE: Thirty Year Mystery [Lowlands of Holland]
From: Duke
Date: 14 May 06 - 09:10 AM

I find it hard to believe, but the mystery has been solved. After all these years. I can only say thank god for the mudcat. Thanks also to Guest RTim it was his version that came closest to what I knew. A few words different here and there, but that's probably just the way that people sing the song.

Once again, I must thank you. It really has been thirty odd years since I had the words to this song. Now to dust off the old guitar!

Subject: RE: Thirty Year Mystery [Lowlands of Holland]
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 May 06 - 09:51 AM

What joy!

Charley Noble