Golden Vanity

There was a lofty ship, and they put her out to sea
And the name of the ship was the Golden Vanity
And they sailed her on the lowland, lowland, low
They sailed her on the lowland sea.

And she had not been sailing but two weeks or three
When she was overtaken by a Turkish Revelry
As she sailed along the lowland, lowland low
As she sailed along the lowland sea

Then boldly up spoke our little cabin boy,
Saying: "What would you give me if the galley I destroy?
If I sink her in the lowland, lowland low,
If I sink her in the lowland sea."

"To the man that them destroys," our Captain then replied
"Five thousand pounds, and my daughter for his bride
If he'll sink them in the lowland, lowland low
If he'll sink them in the lowland sea."

Well, the boy he made ready, and overboard went he,
And he swam to the side of the Turkish enemy
As she lay along the lowland, lowland low,
As she lay along the lowland sea.

And he had a brace and auger made for the use,
And he bored nine holes in her hull all at once
As she lay along the lowland, lowland low,
As she lay along the lowland sea.

And some were playing poker, and some were playing dice;
Some were in the hammocks, and the sea as cold as ice,
And the water rushed in, and it dazzled to their eyes
They were sinking in the lowland sea.

Well, he swam back to his ship, and he beat upon the side,
Crying: "Shipmates, take me up, for I'm weary with the tide,
And I'm weary of the lowland, lowland low
I'm weary of the lowland sea.

"Well, I'll not pick you up," the Captain then replied;
"I'll shoot you, I'll drown you, I'll sink you in the tide;
I will sink you in the lowland, lowland low
I will sink you in the lowland sea."

"If it was not for the love that I bear for your men,
I'd do unto you as I did unto them,
I would sink you in the lowland, lowland low,
I would sink you in the lowland sea.

And the boy bowed his head; down sank he,
And he said farewell to the Golden Vanity
As she lay along the lowland, lowland low
As she lay along the lowland sea.

There was a lofty ship, and they put her out to sea
And the name of the ship was the Golden Vanity
And they sailed her on the lowland, lowland, low
They sailed her on the lowland sea.

Another version with slightly different words and a slightly
different tune is printed in "101 plus 5 Folk Songs for Camp",
page 64.
Child #286
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