32. Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity) (Folk-Songs of the South- 1925; Footnotes moved to the end of each version.)
32. THE SWEET TRINITY (THE GOLDEN VANITY) (Child, No. 286)
This ballad is known in West Virginia as "The Green Willow Tree" and "The Golden Willow Tree." Two variants of the former have been found, practically identical, with the exception that the second has been localized in "North America." A single stanza only under the second title has been recovered. They are very similar to Child C. A and C were reported by Cox, xlv, 160 (Journal, xxix, 400).
For American texts see Journal, xvni, 125 (Barry; Vermont); xxin, 429 (Belden; Missouri); xxx, 331 (Kittredge, from Belden; Missouri); Focus, tv, 158 (Virginia); Wyman and Brockway, p. 72 (Kentucky); McGill, p. 96 (Kentucky); Shoemaker, p. in (Pennsylvania); Campbell and Sharp, No. 35 (North Carolina) ; Pound, No. 10 (Nebraska); Minish MS. (North Carolina);
Singer's Journal, 11, 686. For references see Journal, xxx, 330. Add Bulletin, Nos. 8-10. A fragment of the ballad, combined with an additional stanza of a comic character, has been popular as a college song: Waite, Carmina Colligensia
(Boston, cop. 1868), p. 171; The American College Songster (Ann Arbor, 1876), p. 101; White, Student Life in Song (Boston, cop. 1879), p. 58.
A. "The Green Willow Tree." Contributed by Mr. John B. Adkins, Branchland, Lincoln County, April 1, 1916; learned from a cousin, D. F. Mitchell, who learned it from an old man in Brethett County, Kentucky, by the name of Allen.
1 Once there was a ship and it sailed on the sea,
Crying, O the lonesome Lowlands low
Once there was a ship and it sailed on the sea,
It went by the name of the Green Willow Tree.
A-sailing in the Lowlands low
2 She had n't been sailing more than weeks two or three,
Till she was overtaken by a Turkish Traveller.
3 Down stepped the Captain, says, "What shall we do?
They will overtake us and cut us in two."
4 Up stepped the cabin-boy, says, "What will you give me,
To stop that ship, that Turkish Traveller? "
5 "I'll give you gold or I'll give you fee,
Besides, my oldest daughter your wife may she be."
6 So he fell upon his breast and away swame he,
He swum till he came to the Turkish Travelier.
7 He had instruments fitten for the use,
He bored nine holes and in poured the juice.
8 Some were playing cards and some were playing checks,
The first thing they knew they were in water to their necks.
9 Some with their hats and some with their caps,
Trying to stop them salt-water gaps.
10 So he fell upon his breast and away swame he,
He swum till he came to the Green Willow Tree.
11 "Say, kind sir, won't you take me on board,
And be to me as kind as your word? "
12 "No, kind sir, I won't take you on board,
Neither be to you as kind as my word."
13 "If it was n't for the respect that I have for you men,
I'd serve you as I served them."
14 He fell upon his breast and away swame he,
And bid adieu to the Green Willow Tree.
B. "The Green Willow Tree." Communicated by Miss Iva Thornton, Branchland, Lincoln County, August 31, 1916; obtained from Parker Lucas, a blind man, who learned it when he was a boy from J. W. Adkins, his sister's husband.
1 There was a ship a-sailing off North America,
Crying, O, 't is lonesome in the Lowlands low
There was a ship a-sailing off North America,
And she went by the name of the Green Willow Tree.
As we 're sailing in the Lowlands low
2 She had n't been on sea for more than weeks three,
Until she was overtaken by the Turkish Revelee [or Turkey Sweveltee].
3 Up spoke the Captain, saying, "Who will it be,
To go and destroy the Turkish Revelee?"
4 Up steps the cabin-boy, saying, "What will you give me,
If I overtake her and destroy all her crew?"
5 "I will give you gold and I will give you fee,
Likewise, my eldest daughter your wedded bride shall be."
6 He fell upon his breast and away swam he,
He swam till he came to the Turkish Revelee.
7 He had a tool just fitted for the use,
He bored in a hole and let in a sluice.
8 Some were playing cards and some were playing checks,
And the first thing they knew they were in water to their necks.
9 He fell upon his breast and away swam he,
Swam till he came to the Green Willow Tree.
10 Saying, " Captain, O Captain, won't you take me on board,
And be as good to me as your word?"
11 "Oh no, sir, oh no, sir, not take you on board,
Nor be as good to you as my word."
1 2 He fell upon his breast and down sank he,
Bidding adieu to the Green Willow Tree.
C. "The Golden Willow Tree." Communicated by Mrs. Elizabeth Tapp Peck, Morgantown, Monongalia County, March, 1916; obtained from her mother, Mrs. Thomas H. Tapp, who learned it from her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Wade Mack, who formerly lived near Easton.
There is a ship in the North Countree,
And she goes by the name of the Golden Willow Tree,
And she lieth in the Lowlands low, low, low,
And she lieth in the Lowlands low.