Green Willow Tree- Shadoin (KY) 1917 Sharp D
[From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; Vol. 2, 1932. My title replacing the generic Golden Vanity. Sharp (Karpeles) 1932 notes: "The first stanza only was noted from Mr. Shadoin's singing. The remaining stanzas were copied from Professor Raine's collection, he having noted the text of the song from Mr. Shadoin on a former occasion."
This version was published by Sharp and Raine in 1923 and again by Raine in his 1924 book, "Land of the Saddle-Bags."
R. Matteson 2014]
Sharp's Notes No. 41. The Golden Vanity:
Texts without tunes: Child's English and Scottish Popular Ballads, No. 286. A. Williams's Folk Songs of the Upper Thames, p. 199. Gavin Greig's Folk-Song of the North-East, ii, arts. 116 and 119. Cox's Folk Songs of the South, p. 169 (see also further references). Journal of American Folk-Lore, xxiii. 429; XXX. 330.
Texts with tunes:—Gavin Greig's Last Leaves, No. 101. Kidson's Garland of English Folk Songs, p. 72. Tozer's Fifty Sailors' Songs, p. 30. English Folk Songs (Selected Edition), I. 36 (also published in One Hundred English Folk-Songs, p. 36). Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, i. 238. English County Songs, p. 182. Songs of the West, 2nd ed., No. 64. Journal of the Folk-Song Society, I. 104; II. 244. Ford's Vagabond Songs of Scotland, p. 103. Journal of American Folk-Lore, xviii. 125. Wyman and Brockway's Lonesome Tunes, p. 72. British Ballads from Maine, p. 339. Davis's Traditional Ballads of Virginia, pp. 516 and 602. McGill's Folk Songs of the Kentucky Mountains, p. 97.
D. [Green Willow Tree] Sung by Mr. LUTHER SHADOIN at Lexington, Ky., Sept. 3, 1917
1. There was a ship sailed from the North Amerikee,
Crying O the lonesome lowlands low,
There was a ship sailed from the North Amerikee,
And she went by the name of the Green Willow Tree,
As she sailed from the lowlands low.
2 She'd only been a-sailing for two weeks or three,
O ho, the lonesome lowlands low,
She'd only been a-sailing for two weeks or three
Till she was overtaken by the Turkish Revelee,
As she sailed from the lowlands low.
3 Then cried the captain: What shall we do ?
Crying O the lonesome lowlands low.
Then cried the captain : What shall we do ?
The Turkish Revelee will surely cut us in two,
As we sailed from the lowlands low.
4 Up spake a sailor boy: What will you give to me ?
Crying O the lonesome lowlands low.
Up spake a sailor boy: What will you give to me
If I will go and sink for you the Turkish Revelee ?
As we sail from the lowlands low.
5 I'll give you gold, I'll give you fee,
Crying O the lonesome lowlands low.
I'll give you gold, I'll give you fee
And my only daughter for your wedded wife to be,
As we sailed from the lowlands low.
6 The lad leaped down and away swam he,
Crying O the lonesome lowlands low,
The lad leaped down and away swam he,
And he swam till he came to the Turkish Revelee,
As we sailed from the lowlands low.
7 There were some playing cards and some playing checks,
As we sailed from the lowlands low,
There were some playing cards and some playing checks,
And before they cleared the boards they were in water to their necks,
As we sailed from the lowlands low.
8 Then the lad turned back and away swam he,
Crying O the lonesome lowlands low,
Then he fell upon his breast and away swam he,
And he swam till he came to the Green Willow Tree,
As we sailed from the lowlands low.
9 Cried he: Kind captain, I have done your decree,
Crying O the lonesome lowlands low,
Cried he: Kind captain, I have done your decree,
Now take me on board ere I perish in the sea,
And we sailed from the lowlands low.
10 Nay, nay, sailor-boy, I'll never take you on board,
Crying O the lonesome lowlands low,
Nay, nay, sailor-boy, I'll never take you on board,
Never will I be to you as good as my word,
As we sailed from the lowlands low.
11 'Tis only the respect that I have for your crew,
O ho, the lonesome lowlands low,
'Tis only the respect that I have for your crew,
Or I'd sink your ship and you with it too,
As we sailed from the lowlands low.
12 Then he fell upon his breast and away swam he,
Crying O the lonesome lowlands low,
Then he fell upon his breast and away swam he.
Adieu, adieu to the Green Willow Tree,
Adieu to the lowlands low.