Cruise in the Lowlands Low-Watts (PA) 1784 Shoemaker
[From: North Pennsylvania Minstrelsy: As Sung in the Backwood Settlements, Hunting Cabins and Lumber Camps in Northern Pennsylvania, 1840-1910 by Henry Wharton Shoemaker, John Churchill French, John Hall Chatham. Their notes are at the end- this was reported sung circa 1860. One of the few versions where the captain is drown.
R. Matteson 2014]
60—THE CRUISE IN THE LOWLANDS LOW- Sometimes Called "The North Country"
Our good ship sailed from the north countree—
She went by the name of "Green Williow Tree." [1]
Chorus—As she sailed in the lowlands, lowlands—
As she sailed in the lowlands low.
We had been out but two days or three
When we espied a Turk's ship a-Lee. [2]
Chorus.
Up jumped the cab'n boy: "What will you give me
If I sink that pirate a-Iee?"
Chorus.
"Oh," said our Captain, "I'll give you golden store,
And my only daughter you shall wed, as soon as we reach the shore,
If you'll sink her in the lowlands low."
Chorus.
The boy had an instrument, made for the use,
Four and twenty holes to make at one push.
Chorus.
He bent upon his breast, and away swam he, [3]
Swam to the "Merry Golden Tree."
Chorus.
Some were playing cards, and some throwing dice,
When he let in the water and put out their lights. [4]
Chorus.
Some took their hats and some took their caps,
To shut out the salt water gaps.
Chorus.
The boy bent his breast and away swam he,
Swam to till he came to the "Green Willow Tree."
Chorus.
"Captain, oh, Captain, take me aboard,
And be unto me as good as your word,
For I sunk her in the lowlands low."
Chorus.
"No," said the Captain, "I'll not take you aboard,
Nor be unto you as good as my word.
You may sink with them in the lowlands low!"
Chorus.
The boy bent his breast and down sank he,
Sank by the side of the "Green Willow Tree."
Chorus.
We took that Captain to the larboard side
And threw him overboard in the lowland tide.
Chorus.
He sank by the side of the "Green Willow Tree,"
And he drowned like the Turk's revelry.
Chorus.
We weighed the anchor on our starboard side,
And sailed away with a fair wind and tide—
Chorus.
Away and away our good ship did plough,
As we sailed from the lowlands low!
Chorus.
This sea ballad I heard in Black Forest in 1874, sung by John A. Watts, a deep sea sailor before the mast, and I now write it from memory for the first time, and there may be slight errors in the words used' to express the tale of poetic justice and gusto of the men "who went down to the sea in ships."
John C. French. Reported by John H. Chatham as having been sung in Clinton County sixty years ago.—H. W. S.
1. Willow
2. a-lee for "galley"
3. bent his breast= bent over
4. put out= dazzled at the light