Green Willow Tree- Joines (NC) c1920 REC 1968
[Folkways Recording: Ballads and Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains: Persistence and Change; 1968;
Notes: Paul Joines, now about 56 years old, has spent much of his life in and around Sparta, N. C. He was born a few miles from Sparta, near Whitehead Community, and spent his first years on an old fashioned farm deep in the beautiful Blue Ridge country surrounding Sparta. There he was instilled with the old ballads of the Blue Ridge area, which he learned primarily from members of his family. He recalls for instance, that as a child he would often beg his Ma to sing "Green Willow Tree" when he was ill or could not sleep.
Band 5. "Green Willow Tree": sung by Paul Joines; Folkways 1968
Child #286, Sharp Hl "The Golden Vanity". The scale is hexatonic (3) mixolydian/dorian; range: authentic; structure: abcc; meter: 2/2. The b part in verses 4, 8, and 11 is different from the b part used in the other verses. The chorus (c part) has some peculiar features in the first full measure: If I'll sink them in the low . . . The 7th interval (from g to f) is one which is seldom used melodically in traditional classical music or in modern day pop or Country and Western music. The other more obvious peculiarity is that the f# doesn't "belong". Theoretically the scale calls for a f-natural, but the melody line , which is preparing for the large ascending leap, flows more easily with the inconspicuous f# on a weak beat providing a half step leading tone.
There was a ship come sailing from the northern country
And she went by the name of the Green Willow Tree
As she lay anchored in the lowland, lonesome lowland
As she lay anchored in the lowland, low so low so low.
Then up stepped one of the little cabin boys
Saying what will you give me their lives to destroy
If I'll sink them in the lowland, lonesome lowland
If I'll sink them in the lowland, low so low so low.
I'll give you gold and I'll give you fee
And my oldest daughter your wedding bride shall be
If you sink them in the lowland, lonesome lowland
If you'll sink them in the lowland, low so low so low.
He folded up his arms and out swam he
Crying oh the low and the lonesome sea
I will sink them in the lowland, lonesome lowland
I will sink them in the lowland, low so low so low.
He had a little instrument fitted for the use
He could make eleven holes at one single push
As he sank them in the lowland, lonesome lowland
As he sank them in the lowland, low so low so low.
Some were at cards and others at dice
While still others were taking the devil's own advice
As he sank them in the lowland, lonesome lowland
As he sank them in the lowland, low so low so low.
Some ran with hats and some ran with caps
They were trying to stop out the salt water gaps
For they were sinking in the lowland, lonesome lowland
For they were sinking in the lowland, low so low so low.
He folded up his arms and back swam he
Crying oh the lowland, the lonesome sea
I have sunk them in the lowland, lonesome lowland
I have sunk the m in the lowland, low so low so low.
Captain oh Captain take me back upon board
And be unto me as good as your word
For I have sunk them in the lowland, lonesome lowland
For I have sunk them in the lowland, low so low so low.
No I will not take you back upon board
Neither be unto you as good as my word
Although you sank them in the lowland, lonesome lowland
Although you sank them in the lowland, low so low so low.
He folded up his arms and down sank he
Crying oh the lowland the lonesome sea
I am Sinking in the lowland, lonesome lowland
I am Sinking in the lowland, low so low so low.