Merry Golden Tree- Lunsford/Moss (NC) 1925 REC
[Bascom Lamar Lunsford secured a version titled "Merrie Golden Tree" from Ada Moss in 1925 while Robert Gordon was visiting him in North Carolina. Lunsford's version however has some changes that are different; the chorus, 3rd stanza and especially "smote his breast" which he must have added to make his version (Merry Golden Tree) more archaic. Lunsford recorded his version in the 1956 Riverside LP 'Minstrel of the Appalachians.' Here's some information from two sources.
From: Minstrel of the Appalachians: The Story of Bascom Lamar Lunsford by Loyal Jones: He took Gordon to such a program in Jackson County, North Carolina, where he offered a five-dollar gold piece for the best ballad. He remembered that "just preceding the program I secured 'The Merry Golden Tree' from Miss Ada Moss of the Canadian section of Jackson County.
From: Good friends and bad enemies: Robert Winslow Gordon and the Study of American Folksong by Debora G. Kodish - 1986:
Ada Moss contributed "The Merry Golden Tree," just before the evening's program, and therefore was ineligible to receive the five-dollar gold piece, but Gordon recorded her and expressed himself very kindly about the program and manner in which these songs were secured.
Miss Ada Moss of Cullowhee sang a version of "The Merrie Golden Tree" that Gordon printed soon after in Adventure Magazine.
Compare to the Ada Moss version published in. Adventure Magazine and in 1978 in the Quarterly Journal of the Library of Congress- Volume 35, Page 227.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Merry Golden Tree- As sung by Bascom Lamar Lunsford in 1956, based in part on a version sung by Ada Moss in 1925.
[banjo]
There was a little ship, that sailed upon the sea
And the name of the ship was the Merrie Golden Tree,
As they sailed on the lonesome, lowlands low,
As they sailed on the lonesome sea.
There was another ship, that sailed upon that sea,
And the name that they gave it was the Merrie Turtle Lee,
As they sailed on the lonesome, lowlands low,
As they sailed on the lonesome sea.
There was a little boy, that run amongst the men
Who said "Captain, captain, what will you give me then
If I sink in the lonesome, lowland(s) low,
If I sink it on the lonesome sea?"
"Well that will be money, and that'll be a fee,
Besides my loving daughter I will marry unto thee,
If you'll sink it in the lonesome, lowlands low,
If you'll sink it in the lonesome sea."
So he smote [1] his breast and off swum he,
And he swum till he come to the Merry Turtle Lee,
As he sailed on the lonesome, lowlands low,
As he sailed on the lonesome sea.
And he had a little auger all fitted for the use,
And he bored nine holes in its hull all at once,
And he sank it in the lowland, lonesome, lonesome,
And he sank it in the lonesome sea.
Well he smote his breast and back swam he,
And he swam till he come to the Merrie Golden Tree
As he sailed on the lonesome, lowland low,
As he sailed on the lonesome sea.
And he said, "Captain, captain, let me on board
Or you'll not be as good as you told me you would,
If I'd sink it in the lonesome, lowlands low,
If I'd sink it in the lonesome sea."
"Well there'll be no money, and there'll be no fee,
Nor my loving daughter will I marry unto thee,
Oh you sank it on the lonesome, lowlands low,
Oh you sank it on the lonesome sea.
We it not for the love I have for the men,
I would do unto you as I did unto them
I would sink you in the lonesome, lowlands low,
I would sink you in the lonesome sea.
Then he smote his breast and down swum he,
Singing, "Fare you well to the Merry Golden Tree,"
As he sails on the lonesome, lowlands low,
As he sailed on the lonesome sea.
1. pronounced smoot.