Green Willow Tree- Gilbert/Hogan (MO) pre1960 Cochran
[From Singing in Zion: Music and Song in the Life of an Arkansas pages 82, 138, 139 by Robert Cochran - 1999. This version is from Margaret Hogan, who is Phydella Gilbert Hogan's mother-in-law (Phydella died in 1999). No date given (Phydella Hogan of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and her sister Helen Morris of nearby Mayfield, Arkansas, attended play parties during the late 1930s and early 1940s- Waltz the Hall: The American Play Party - Page 12) but the collection of songs was completed circa 1960s. This version should date to the early 1900s at least. Here are two excerpts from Singing in Zion:
"The Lowlands Low," or "The Golden Vanity." The Gilberts call their version "The Green Willow Tree," and Phydella is quite specific in tracing it to her mother-in-law, Margaret Hogan, and in locating her learning of the song in Nevada, Missouri.
"These variations have mostly to do with ship names, since nearly all variants of the song include two named vessels. In the Gilbert version, for example, a ship called the Green Willow Tree is sunk by a brave adventurer from another ship called the Turkey Shivaree — he bores holes in its side with some sort of auger. . ."
R. Matteson 2014]
The Green Willow Tree- Sung by Phydella Hogan (Arkansas); learned from Margaret Hogan (Missouri).
There was a ship sailed from the North Country
Crying over the lowlands low
There was a ship sailed from the North Country
And the name of the ship was the Turkey Shivaree
When she sailed o'er the lowlands lonesome, low
Where she sailed o'er the lowlands low.
She hadn't been a-sailin but weeks two or three
Crying o'er the lowlands low
She hadn't been a-sailin but weeks two or three
Till she hove in sight of the Green Willow Tree
Lying anchored in the lowlands, lonesome low
Lying anchored in the lowlands low.
I'll give you gold I'll give you a fee
Crying o'er the lowlands low
I'll give you gold, I'll give you a fee
And my lovely little daughter your wife for to be
If you'll sink her in the lowlands, lonesome low
If you'll sink her in the lowlands low.
He bared his breast and off swum
Crying o'er the lowlands low
He bared his breast and off swum he
Till he came in sight of the Green Willow Tree
Lying anchored in the lowlands, lonesome low
Lying anchored in the lowlands low.
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