GOLDEN WILLOW TREE
(THE SWEET TRINITY;
THE LOWLANDS LOW;
THE GOLDEN VANITY)
Sung by: Almeda Riddle
Recorded on 5/10/62

 Click here to listen to the original recording
(Comment by Mrs. Riddle: "Well, I've heard it called the 'Merry Golden Tree,' as here, and I've heard it called 'The Golden Willow Tree.' Now, I first learned it as a child as 'The Golden Willow Tree,' and I have been looking it up in folklore books. You'll find it all different versions, so many, you know, as all the old ones are.")

There was a little ship that sailed upon the sea,
And the name of that ship was the 'Merry Golden Tree.'
A-sailing on the low, on the lonesome low,
A-sailing on the lonesome lowland sea.

Now she hadn't been out but a week, two or three,
Until she sighted the British robbery.
Sailing on the low, and the lonesome low,
A-flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea.

Up stepped the captain, wringing of his hands,
A-saying, "Oh, Lord," and "What will I do?
They'll sink us in this low, and the lonesome low;
They'll sink us to the bottom of this lonely sea."

A boy said, "Captain, captain, what will you give me
If I just sink this British robbery?
I'll sink her in this low, and the lonesome low.
I'll sink her to the bottom of this lonely sea."

"Now, it's I that have wealth, and I would have fame.
A fair young daughter, I've a time-honored name,
If you'll sink them in this low, and the lonesome low,
If you'll sink them to the bottom of the lowland sea.

"I'll give you my wealth, and I'll give you fame,
A fair young daughter, then you shall married be,
If you'll sink them in the low, and the lonesome low,
If you'll sink them to the bottom of this lonely sea."

Then he picked up his tools and jumped overboard.
He said, "I'll be just as good as my word.
I will sink them in this low, and the lonesome low.
I'll sink them to the bottom of this lonely sea."

Then he took his little tool, just made for that use,
And . . .

(Mrs. Riddle: "Let's go back, do that next verse again
      because . . ."
Dr. Wolf: "Pitch it a little higher while you're there, too. They
      can't hear you in the back."
Mrs. Riddle: "Oh, just sing a little louder. I can't go any
      higher; I can go a little louder if you want it, but I
      don't think I can reach it any higher."
Dr. Wolf: "It sounds a little low to me."
Mrs. Riddle: "Well, it might be. I'm a little bit hoarse.")

Then he picked up a tool and jumped overboard.
He said, "I'll be just as good as my word."
He was swimming in the low and the lonesome low;
He was swimming o'er the lonesome lowland sea.

Then he took his little tool, just made for that use,
And bored twelve holes, just to let in the juice.
They were sinking in the low, and the lonesome low.
They were sinking to the bottom of the lowland sea.

Sailors off with their coats, and jerked off their caps,
A-trying to stop up the salt water gaps.
They were sinking in the low and the lonesome low.
They were sinking to the bottom of the lowland sea.

Then he turned around, and away swam he
Until he came back to the British robbery . . .

(Comment by Mrs. Riddle: "I'm all tired and messed up
      this afternoon. You folks will just have to use a little
      tolerance, I guess.")

Then he turned around, and away swam he,
Until he came back to the 'Merry Golden Tree,'
A-swimming in this low, and the lonesome low,
Still swimming o'er the lonesome lowland sea.

"Oh, Captain, are you good as your word?
Then take this poor drowning sailor man on board,
For I'm drowning in this low, and the lonesome low.
I'm a-drowning in this lonesome lowland sea."

"I will not give you wealth; I'll not give you fame.
Nor my fair young daughter and you will married be.
I'll leave you in this low and the lonesome low.
I'll leave you in this lonesome lowland sea."

"If 'twas not for your daughter, and you were such a man,
I'd just do to you what I did to them.
I would sink you in this low, and the lonesome low.
I'd sink you to the bottom of this lowland sea."

Then he turned on his back, and away swam he.
Said, "Fare you well, my 'Merry Golden Tree.'"
He was drowning in the low and the lonesome low,
A-drowning in the lonesome 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
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