A Ship Set Sail- Jacobs (WI) 1941 Draves REC
From: CHILD BALLADS TRADITIONAL IN THE UNITED STATES
Notes by Bertrand H. Bronson: The home port of the victor in this chance naval encounter, by whatever name the vessel is known, is likely to change with every fresh version, though latterly at least in this country, the Turks seem to have a fairly constant claim to her opponent, and the Lowlands Low is always the scene of the engagement. There is, so far as has been determined, no historical basis for the story, which anyhow occurred too early for Russian divers to have had anything to do with the catastrophe. Sir Walter Raleigh is charged in the earliest version known (late seventeenth century) with the Captain's inexplicable treachery to his little ship-boy, so good at need with his invaluable instrument. But Raleigh's fair fame seems to have defeated these unjust aspersions in the long run, for tradition has apparently not cared to preserve them. The Turkish seamen~s way of amusing themselves when not on duty ("reading checkstt ) is a novelty in Morrists version. Earlier, they played with dice, and from that to playing checkers is no unbridgeable distance. But the checks had best have been written with a nautical pen --a later invention than the sea-going augur. Though both our versions come from inland sources, the song has been current mainly in the maritime states.
B5 (a) "A Ship Set Sail for North America." Sung by Mrs. Ollie Jacobs at Pearson, Wisconsin, 1941. Recorded by Robert F. Draves and Helene Stratman-Thomas. See preceding note, B4.
1. A ship set sail for North America
And she went by the name of the Turkish Revelee
As she sailed along the lonesome lowlands low
As she sailed along the Lowland Sea.
2. There was another ship in the north countre-ee
And she went by the name of a Golden Willow Tree
As she sailed upon the lonesome lowlands low
As she sailed upon the Lowland Sea.
3. Captain, O captain, what will you give me
If I overtake her and sink her in the sea
If I'll sink her in the lonesome lowlands low
If I'll sink her in the Lowland Sea?
4. I have a house and I have land
And I have a daughter that will be at your command
If you'll sink her in the lonesome lowlands low
If you'll sink her in the Lowland Sea.
5. I have a little tool just fitted for the use
Boring for salt water, letting in the sluice [1]
As she sails upon the lonesome lowlands low
As she sails upon the Lowland Sea.
6. He fell upon his back and away swam he [2]
Until he overtaken the Golden Willow
Tree As she sailed along the lonesome lowlands low
As she sailed along the Lowland Sea.
7. Some with their hats and some with their caps
Trying to stop the salt water gaps
As she sailed along the lonesome lowlands low
As she sailed along the Lowland Sea.
1. Sluice is not common but a better use, usually it's salt-water juice.
2. Weak here. He bent upon his breast - more common.