The Green Willow Tree

There was a little ship that sailed on the sea,
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low! "
There was a little ship that sailed on the sea;
It went by the name of the Green Willow rree.
That was sailing on the lonesome lowland low,
That was sailing on the lonesome sea.

It hadn't been sailing there in a half a year or more,
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low!"
It hadn't been sailing there in a half a year or more,
Till it was overtook by a Turkey Shevelee
That was sailing on the lowland lonesome low,
That was sailing on the lonesome sea.

"Captain, oh, Captain, what will we do?"
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low! "
"Captain, oh, Captain, what will we do?
It'll run right over us and cut us in two,
And'Il sink us in the lonesome, the lowland low,
And'Il sink us in the lonesome sea."

"Captain oh, Captain, what'll you give me?"
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low! "
"Captain, oh, Captain, what'll you give me
To overtake and sink that Turkey Shevelee
That's a-sailing on the lonesome lowland low,
That's a-sailing on the lonesome sea?"

"I'll give you money and I'll set you free:'
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low! "
"I'll give you money and I'll set you free;
Besides, my eldest daughter your be-wedded wife
If you'll sink'em in the lonesome lowland low,
If you'll sink'em in the lonesome sea."

He down upon his breast, and away swam he,
Crying, " Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low!"
He down upon his breast, and away swam he,
And he soon overtook that Turkey Shevelee
That's a-sailing on the lonesome lowland low,
Mat's a-sailing on the lonesome sea.

Having a tool that was fit for to use,
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low!"
Having a tool that was fit for to use,
He bored seven holes which let in the juice
That'd sink' em in the lonesome lowland low,
That'd sink' em in the lonesome sea.

Some with their hats and some with their caps,
Crying "Oh the lonesome, the lowland low!"
Some with their hats and some with their caps,
Trying for to stop those large water-gaps
That would sink' em in the lonesome lowland low,
That'd sink' em in the lonesome sea.

He down upon his breast and away swam he,
Crying "Oh the lonesome, the lowland low!"
He down upon his breast and away swam he,
And he soon overtook the Green Willow Tree,
That was sailing on the lonesome lowland low,
That was sailing on the lonesome sea.

"Captain, oh, Captain, you take me on board?"
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low!"
"Captain, oh, Captain, you take me on board,
Or will you be as good as your word?
For I'm sinking in the lonesome lowland low,
For l'm sinking in the lonesome sea."

"No, sir, no sir, not take you on board,"
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low!"
"No, sir, no sir, not take you on board,
Nor neither will I be as good as my word;
For I'll sink you in the lonesome lowland low,
For I'll sink you in the lonesome sea."

"If it wasn't for the sake of those on board:"
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low!"
"If it wasn't for the sake of those on board
I'd sink you in the lonesome sea."

He down on his back and away sank he
Crying, "Oh, the lonesome, the lowland low."
He down on his back and away sank he
"Adieu, adieu to the Green willow tree
That's a-sailing in the lonesome lowland low,
That's a-sailing in the lonesome sea."


From Southern Folk Ballads, McNeil
Collected from Rachel Henry, Arkansas, 1951
Child #286
RG