47. The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)
(Child 286)
The oldest form of this, Child's A, is a seventeenth-century broadside; later modifications of it, in broadsides and stall prints down into the nineteenth century, are nearer to the form in which it is traditionally current in our time. It is a favorite among American ballad singers. For its vogue, see BSM 97-8 [1], and add to the citations there given Massachusetts (FSONE 136-7), North Carolina (FSRA 43-5), Florida (FSF 326-8), the Ozarks (OFS I 195-201), Michigan (BSSM 214-15), and Wisconsin (JAFL LII 11-12). It is altogether probable that its popularity is due in part to the sonorous refrain, and perhaps also to the tune or tunes used. There are six texts in our collection.
Footnote (above): 1. There are two errors in the citations there given. The LL reference should be 238-9, not 228-9; and the JFSS 11 reference should be 244, not 224.
A. 'The Turkish Revoloo.' Sent to C. Alphonso Smith by Thomas Smith of Zionville, Watauga county, in 1914 and later to the North Carolina collection. The name 'Revoloo' for the Turkish ship is peculiar to this version. The ship bears a variety of names in the various versions, frequently "the Turkish Revelee," as in stanza 6 below; so that one suspects a change in stanza 2 for the sake of the rhyme with "two." Compare "Traveloo" in version C below. The refrain is written out throughout, because it is sometimes adapted to the matter of the stanzas.
1 There was a little ship in the South Amerikee
That went by the name of the Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed on the saltwater sea.
2 She hadn't been a-sailin' more than a week or two
Till she came in sight of the Turkish Revoloo
As she sailed on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed on the saltwater sea.
3 The Captain cried, 'Oh, what shall I do?
For yonder comes the Turkish Revoloo.
As she sails on the lowland Ipnesome low.
As she sails on the saltwater sea.'
4 Up steps a little cabin boy, saying, 'What'll you give me
If I will sink her in the saltwater sea.
As she sails on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sails on the saltwater sea?'
5 I have a house, and I have lands,
And I have an only daughter, who shall be at your command,
If you will sink her in [the] lowland low,
If you will sink her in the saltwater sea.'
6 He bent to his breast and off swam he,
Till he came to the side of the Turkish Revoke
As she sails on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sails on the saltwater sea.
7 He had a little instrument a-purpose for the use
And he cut nine gashes in the saltwater juice[2]
As she sailed on the lowland lonesome low.
As she sailed on the saltwater sea.
8 Some a-playin' cards and some a-playin' checks
And some a-dancing on the saltwater decks
As she sinks in the lowland lonesome low,
As she sinks in the saltwater sea.
9 Some with their hats and some with their caps
A-tryin' for to stop the saltwater gaps.
As she sinks in the lowland lonesome low,
As she sinks in the saltwater sea.
10 He turned his face and back swam he,
Till he reached the side of the Golden Willow Tree
As she sailed on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed on the saltwater sea.
11 'Captain, will you be as good as your word,
And will you take me back on board,
As you sail on the lowland lonesome low,
As you sail on the saltwater sea?'
12 I will neither be as good as my word,
I will neither take you back on board,
As I sail on the lowland lonesome low,
As I sail on the saltwater sea.'
13 If it wasn't for the love I have for your men
I would do to you as I did to them
As you sail on the lowland lonesome low.
As you sail on the saltwater sea.'
14 He turned his back and down sank he,
Bidding farewell to the Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed on the lowlands lonesome low,
As she sailed [on] the saltwater sea.
Footnote 2. Many texts have here "sluice," which comes nearer to making sense.
B. 'The Golden Willow Tree.' Secured by I. G. Greer of Boone, Watauga county, in 1915 or 1916. The text is almost identical with that of A; the second line of stanza 5 reads "If you will sink her in the bottom of the sea" and stanza 6 has "Revoloo" instead of "Revolee," in spite of the fact that the preceding line ends in "he."
C. 'The Lonesome Low.' One of two versions reported by Mrs. Sutton, who remarks : "The Golden Willow Tree is a very common ballad in this State. I have collected it in Caldwell, on the Beech Mountain in Watauga, on Toe River, on Big Hungry in Henderson, on Upper Hominy in Buncombe, and on the Rocky Broad in Rutherford. I've heard it in a Gaston county mill village and fishermen sing it on the Albemarle Sound. It is almost as widely known as Barbary Allen." One of the versions she secured from the singing of Myra Barnett (Miller), "from whom I got 42 traditional ballads. Myra fascinated every child in our neighborhood with the songs when I was a little girl." She came from the Brushy Mountains in Caldwell county, near the Wilkes county line. The text of this version is the same as that of A. Her other text bears the title 'The Lonesome Low,' with the music supplied by her sister. Miss Pearl Minish. But her manuscript does not show from which of her many singers of it this text was set down.
1 There was a little ship a-sailin' on the sea,
And she went by the name of The Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed on the lowland lonesome low.
As she sailed on the lonesome sea. [3]
2 Up stepped a sailor: 'Oh, what shall we do?
For I have spied the Turkish Traveloo
As she sails on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sails on the lowland sea.'
3 Up stepped a young man : 'Oh, what'll you give to me
If I will sink her in the bottom of the sea
As she sails on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sails on the lowland sea?'
4 'I have a house and I have lands,
I have an only daughter that shall be at your command,
If you'll sink her in the lowland lonesome low,
If you'll sink her in the lowland sea.'
5 He turned upon his breast and away swam he.
He swum till he found her a-sailin' on the sea,
A-sailin' on the lowland lonesome low,
A-sailin' on the lowland sea.
6 Some a-playin' cards, and some a-pitchin' dice.
And some a-standin' by them a-givin' good advice
As she sailed on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed on the lowland sea.
7 He cut and he slashed, till he cut plumb through,
He cut nine gashes in that Turkish Traveloo;
As she sailed on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed on the lowland sea.
8 Some with their hats and some with their caps
And some fur to stop them salt water gaps
As she sunk in the lowland lonesome low,
As she sunk in the lowland sea.
9 He turned upon his breast and away swam he,
He swum till he came to the Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed on the lowland lonesome low.
As she sailed on the lowland sea.
10 'Oh captain, oh captain, will you be as good as your word?
Oh captain, oh captain, will you take me on board.
As you sail on the lowland lonesome low,
As you sail on the lowland sea?'
11 'Neither will I be as good as my word
Nor neither will I take you on board,
Tho' you've sunk her in the lowland lonesome low,
Tho' you've sunk her in the lowland sea.'
12 'If it was not for the love I have for your men
I'd do unto you as I done unto them,
I would sink you in the lowland lonesome low.
I would sink you in the lowland sea.'
13 He turned upon his back and down sunk he;
He said farewell to the Golden Willow Tree
As she sailed on the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed on the lowland sea.
Footnote: 3. Miss Pearl sang here "lowland sea."
D. 'Cabin Boy.' Contributed by Juanita Tillett of Wanchese, Roanoke Island, in 1923.
1 Up steps the cabin boy, and the cabin boy said he:
'What will you give me to sink the Exellin.
If I sink her in the lowland so low. my boys.' said he.
'If I sink her in the lowland sea?'
2 'I have riches and I have land,
Besides I've a daughter and she will be at your command.
If you will sink her in the lowland so low, my boys,' said he,
'If you'll sink her in the lowland sea.'
3 This boy had a jar[4] all fitten for the use;
Four and twenty holes he had bore into the sloop.
So he sunk him in the lowland so low, my boys, said he,
So he sunk him in the lowland sea.
4 Some were playing cards and others throwing dice.
While captain and mate was both giving good advice ;
Then he sank her in the lowland so low, my boys, said he,
So he sunk her in the lowland sea.
5 This boy dived his best, and swam against the tide,
He swam till he came to his master's side.
For he had sunk in the lowland so low, my boys, said he.
He had sunk her in the lowland sea.
6 'Master, oh master,' this poor boy he cried,
'You may take me or I'll float with the tide.'
'I'll hang you, I'll shoot you, I'll send you with the tide.
If ever I thought my daughter would be your bride.
Though you have sunk her in the lowland so low, boys,' said he;
And he sunk her in the lowland sea.
7 The mate he picked him up and he laid him on the deck.
In four and twenty minutes his soul had gone to rest.
Though he had sunk her in the lowland so low, my boys, said he;
And he sunk her in the lowland sea.
Footnote 4. This is a curious corruption of "auger."
There seems to be some confusion here and in stanza 5 between the sinking of the vessel and the sinking of the cabin boy himself.
E. 'Lowland Lonesome Low.' Contributed by Frank Proffitt of Sugar Grove, Watauga county, 1937. Four stanzas, corresponding to stanzas 1. 4. 5. 7 of A.
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47. The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)
(Child 286)
A. 'The Turkish Revoloo.' Sung by Mrs. Nora Hicks. Recorded at Mast's Gap, Watauga county, August 28, 1940. Only slight changes m text. It is noteworthy that all versions except 47D have the same structure. But in general, all the versions (except 47D) resemble one another a great deal.
For melodic relationship cf. **SharpK i 284, No. 41C; SharpK i 339, No. 52B ('The Boatsman and the Chest').
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abcci (2,2,2 2) = ab (4,4). Possibly nmmi (4,2,2) = inverted barform. Circular Tune (V).
A(1) 'The Turkish Revoloo.' Sung by Mrs. James York. From previous recording of Dr. W. A. Abrams, Boone, September 14, I94i- Other titles given are 'The Sweet Trinity' and 'The Golden Willow Tree.'
For melodic relationship cf. **SharpK I 284 and 288, No. 41 C and G, measures 1-2; ibid. 289, No. 41H, last three measures with our last six.
Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abcc^ (2,2,2,2) = ab (4,4). Possibly nmmi (4,2,2) = inverted barform. Circular tune (V).
B. 'The Golden Willow Tree.' Sung by Dr. I. G. Greer. Recorded, but no date or place given. Other titles given are: 'Cabin Boy,' 'The Golden Trinity,' 'The Golden Vanity,' 'Lowland Lonesome Low,' and 'Turkish Revoloo.'
For melodic relationship cf. *SharpK i 289, No. 41 H, measures 7-8.
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abcc^ (2,2,2,2) = ab (4,4). Possibly nmmi (4,2,2) = inverted barform. Circular Tune (V).
C. 'The Lonesome Low.' Sung by Myra Barnett Miller. Recorded as ms score, but no date or place given.
For melodic relationship cf. ***SharpK i 339, No. 52B, measures 284, No. 41 C.
Scale : Hexachordal. Tonal Center : c. Structure : abcc1 (2,2,2,2) = Possibly nmmi (4,2,2) = inverted barform.
C(1) 'The Lonesome Low.' Sung by Myra Barnett Miller. Recorded probably at Lenoir, August 1939, 1940, or 1941. This is a second version by this singer, a recording against which the score of the previous version could be checked. The second melody proved to be merely a variation of the first. Other titles given are 'The Sweet Trinity,' and 'The Golden Willow Tree.'
For melodic relationship see references to 47C above.
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: abcc1 (2,2,2,2) = ab (4,4). Possibly nmm (4,2,2) = inverted barform. Circular Tune (V).
D. 'Cabin Boy.' Sung by C. K. Tillett. Recorded at Wanchese, Roanoke Island, in 1923. The tune for the second stanza begins with the eight measures given in the variations, which in themselves represent merely unimportant changes in the melodic line of the initial eight measures of the original melody. Instead, however, of continuing with the remainder of the latter, the second stanza repeats for the remaining eight measures the initial phrase of the first stanza.
For melodic relationship cf. **FSRA 43, No. 23, measures 5-8.
Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: (1st stanza) abak (4.4,4,4) = aa1 (8,8). (2nd stanza) a2c1ab1 (4,4,4,4) = aai (8,8).