|
THE GOLDEN WILLOW TREE (THE SWEET TRINITY; THE LOWLANDS LOW; THE GOLDEN VANITY) Sung by: Mrs. Almeda Riddle Recorded in Miller, AR, 7/16/53 Click here to listen to the original recording And the name of that ship was the Golden Willow Tree, As it sailed upon the lone and the lonesome low, As it sailed upon the lonesome sea. They hadn't been out but a week, two or three, 'Til they came in sight of the British Robbery, As they sailed upon the lone and the lonesome low, A-flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea. Up stepped the captain, wringing of his hand, Saying, "Oh, my God, what can we do? They will sink us on this low and a lonesome low; They'll sink us to the bottom of this lonely sea." "Captain, Captain, what will you give me If I will sink those British Robbery? I'll sink them on the low and the lonesome low; I can sink them on the lonely lowland sea." "I'll give you money, I'll give you a fee, My youngest daughter and you shall married be, If you'll sink them in the low and the lonesome low; If you sink them in this lonesome lowland sea." He jumped overboard and away swam he 'Til he came to the British Robbery; They were sailing on the low and the lonesome low; They were sailing on the lonesome lowland sea. Out with his instruments made for the use, And he bored nine holes just to let in the juice. They sailing on the low and the lonesome low, And he sunk her to the bottom of the lowland sea. Some offed with their coats and some with their caps, All trying for to stop up those salt water gaps. They were sinking in the low and the lonesome low; They were sinking to the bottom of the lowland sea. He turned away; from there swam he 'Til he got back to the Merry Willow Tree, Sinking in the low and the lonesome low; He is swimming in the lonely lowland sea. Said, "Captain, Captain, are good as your word? Will you take this poor drowning man aboard? I'm sinking in this low and lonesome low. I'm sinking to the bottom of this lonely sea." "Well, it's I that have money, and it's I that have friends, But yet true to my word I've never been. I will leave you in this low and a lonesome low; I'll leave you in the lonely lowland sea." I'll neither give you money nor give you your fee; My oldest daughter nor you shall married be. I will leave you in this low and lonesome low; I'll leave you lonely drowning in this lonely sea." "If it wasn't for your daughter, you being such a man, I'd do unto you what I done to them. I would sink you in the low and a lonesome low. I'd sink you in this lonesome lowland sea." So he turned on his back and away swam he, Saying, "Fare you well to the Golden Willow Tree. I am sinking in this low and lonesome low; I'm sinking in this lonely lowland sea." Also found in Child, #286, "The Sweet Trinity"; Randolph, Vol. I, #38, "The Lowlands Low"; Brown, Vol. II, #47, "The Sweet Trinity"; Belden, p. 97, "The Golden Vanity." |
|
All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |