Recordings & Info: 286. The Sweet Trinity (Golden Vanity)
CONTENTS:
1) Alternative Titles
2) Traditional Ballad Index
3) Child Collection Index
4) Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America by Tristram Coffin 1950, from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
5) Folk Index
6) Mainly Norfolk: The Golden Vanity / The Old Virginia Lowlands
7) Ten recording texts of the Golden Vanity
ATTACHED PAGES: (see left hand column)
1) Roud No. 122: The Sweet Trinity (Golden Vanity) (489 Listings)
Alternate Titles
The Lonesome Low
The Merry Golden Tree
The Sweet Kumadee
The Weep-Willow Tree
The Turkish Revoloo
Cabin Boy
Lowland Sea
Ye Gowden Vanitie
A Ship Set Sail for North America
Gold China Tree
Golden Vallady
Low Down Lonesome Low
Merry Golden Tree
Sailing in the Lowlands Low
Sinking in the Lowlands Low
The Cruise in the Lowlands Low
The French Galilee
The Gold China Tree
The Golden Merrilee
The Golden Vanity
The Golden Willow Tree
The Green Willow Tree
The Little Cabin Boy
The Little Ship
The Lonesome Sea
The Lowlands
The Lowland Sea
The Lowlands Low
The Pirate Ship
The Turkey-rogherlee and the Yellow Golden Tree
The Turkey Shivaree
Bold Trellitee
Golden Furnity
Gallant Victory
The Golden Vanitee;
The Spanish Canoe;
The Golden Fenadier;
Golden Vallady;
The Golden Victory; The Mary Golden Tree; The Weeping Willow Tree; The Merry Golden Tree; Lonesome Low; The Green Willow Tree; The Goulden Vanitee; The Gouden Vanity; Sailing in the Lowlands Low; The French Gallerie O; He Had a Little Tool; The Kumadee; Low in the Lowlands, Low; The Little Cabin Boy; The Gold China Tree; The Lowland Sea; Turkish Reveille; The Lonesome Sea; Sinking in the Lonesome Sea; The Turkish Rebilee; The Bold Grandee; The Pirate Ship; A Ship Set Sail for North America; There was a Bold Captain; Sailing on the Lowland Low; Lowland Lonesome Low
Traditional Ballad Index: Golden Vanity, The [Child 286]
DESCRIPTION: A ship is threatened by a foreign galley. The ship's cabin boy, promised gold and the captain's daughter as wife, sinks the galley. He comes back to his ship; the captain will not take him from the water. (The ending is variable)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST_DATE: c. 1685 (broadside)
KEYWORDS: sea battle death promise lie abandonment
HISTORICAL_REFERENCES: c. 1552-1618 - Life of Sir Walter Raleigh (one of whose ships was named "The Sweet Trinity")
FOUND_IN: Britain(England(All),Scotland(Aber,Bord)) Ireland US(All) Canada(Mar,Newf,Ont)
REFERENCES: (66 citations)
Child 286, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (3 texts, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #52, #55}
Bronson 286, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (111 versions+1 in addenda)
Greig #116, p. 1, "The Lowlands O"; Greig #119, p. 2, "The Lowlands Low" (2 texts)
GreigDuncan1 37, "The Golden Vanity" (5 texts, 4 tunes) {D=Bronson's #13}
Ord, pp. 450-451, "The Lowlands Low" (1 text)
Broadwood/Maitland, pp. 182-183, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune)
Williams-Thames, pp. 199-200, "The Golden Vanitee" (1 text) (also Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 444)
BarryEckstormSmyth pp. 339-347, "The Golden Vanity" (4 texts plus 2 fragments, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #108, #66}
Flanders-Ancient4, pp. ,188-263 "The Sweet Trinity or the Golden Vanity" (39 texts plus 11 fragments, 18 tunes) {E=Bronson's #71, HH=#64}
Ford-Vagabond, pp. 103-106, "The Goulden Vanitee" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #53}
Belden, pp. 97-100, "The Golden Vanity" (3 texts)
Randolph 38, "The Lowlands Low" (4 texts plus a fragment, 3 tunes) {A=Bronson's #69, D=#48, E=#51}
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 56-59, "The Lowlands Low" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 38A) {Bronson's #69}
Davis-Ballads 47, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (4 texts plus 2 fragments, 1 tune entitled "The Turkish-Rogherlee and the Yellow Golden Tree, or Lowlands Low") {Bronson's #109}
Davis-More 43, pp. 339-343, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (1 text, 1 tune)
BrownII 47, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (3 texts plus mention of 2 more)
Chappell-FSRA 21, "The Green Willow Tree" (2 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #50}
Hudson 25, pp. 125-127, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (1 text)
Boswell/Wolfe 20, pp. 37-39, "There Was a Ship Sailing" (1 text, 1 tune)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 184-189, "The Sweet Trinity; The Golden Vanity" (2 texts; the first, with no title, is from Randolph; the second has local title "The Golden Willow Tree"; 1 tune on pp. 406-407) {Bronson's #107}
Shellans, pp. 62-63, "The Lonesome Sea Ballad" (1 text, 1 tune)
Rosenbaum, p. 10, "The Little Shipi" (1 text, 1 tune)
Brewster 25, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (3 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #68}
Gardner/Chickering 82, "The Lowlands Low" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #110, related to "The Arkansas Traveller"}
Flanders/Brown, pp. 230-231, "The Green Willow Trees" (1 text)
Linscott, pp. 136-137, "The Gallant Victory or Lowlands Low" (1 short text, with no hint of the Captain's refusal to save the boy; he is hauled aboard and dies, 1 tune)
Creighton/Senior, pp. 101-106, "The Sweet Trinity, or The Golden Vanity" (3 texts plus 2 fragments, 4 tunes) {Bronson's #44, #17, #19, #18}
Creighton-NovaScotia 10, "Sweet Trinity; or The Golden Vanity" (1 text, called "Golden Vallady" by the singer, 1 tune) {Bronson's #21}
Creighton-SNewBrunswick 6, "The Golden Vanity" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Greenleaf/Mansfield 19, "The Golden Vanitie" (2 fragments)
Colcord, pp. 154-156, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #45}
Harlow, pp. 35-36, "Golden Vanitee" (1 text, 1 tune)
Hugill, pp. 62-64, "Lowlands Low" (3 texts, 3 tunes) [AbEd, pp. 58-60]
Logan, pp. 42-46, "The Goulden Vanitie (Golden Vanity, or the Low Lands Low)" (2 texts)
Leach, pp. 667-670, "The Sweet Trinity or The Golden Vanity" (3 texts)
Leach-Labrador 8, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune)
Wyman-Brockway I, p. 72, "The Mary Golden Tree, or The Lonesome Low" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #37}
Cambiaire, pp. 93-94, "The Merry Golden Tree" (1 text)
Ritchie-Southern, pp. 74-75, "Lonesome Sea" (1 text, 1 tune) {cf. Bronson's #41, which is also by Jean Ritchie and uses the same tune but a different title and slightly different words}
McNeil-SFB1, pp. 34-36, "The Green Willow Tree" (1 text, 1 tune)
Friedman, p. 409, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text)
FSCatskills 67, "The Bold Trellitee" (1 text, 1 tune)
OBB 132, "The 'Golden Vanity'" (1 text)
Warner 104, "Lowland Low (or, The Golden Willow Tree)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Peters, pp. 108-109, "A Ship Set Sail for North America" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #85}
SharpAp 41, "The Golden Vanity" (7 texts plus 3 fragments, 11 tunes) {Bronson's #94, #93, #88, #104, #43, #46, #78, #90, #99, #39, #106}
Sharp-100E 14, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #1}
Niles 61, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Sharp/Karpeles-80E 28, "The Weeping Willow Tree (The Golden Vanity)" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #94}
Vaughan Williams/Lloyd, pp. 46-47, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #35}
Scott-BoA, pp. 138-139, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fowke/Mills/Blume, pp. 38-40, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fowke/MacMillan 82, "The 'Green Willow Tree'" (1 text, 1 tune)
Karpeles-Newfoundland 23, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text fragment, 1 tune)
Fowke-Ontario 4, "The Golden Vanity"; Fowke-Ontario 61, "The Green Willow Tree" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Lomax-FSNA 95, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text, 1 tune) {should be Bronson's #73, but heavily reworked}
Chase, pp. 120-121, "The Merry Golden Tree" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #74}
Abrahams/Foss, pp. 79-80, "Golden Willow Tree" (1 text, 1 tune)
LPound-ABS, 10, pp. 24-26, "The Lowlands Low" (1 text)
JHCox 32, "The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)" (2 texts plus a fragment)
JHCoxIIA, #15A-C, pp. 64-69, "The Golden Vanity," "The Mary Golden Lee," "The Green Willow Tree" (3 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #38, which -- despite Cox -- he calls "The Weeping Willow Tree"; this version has two American ships "The Weeping Willow Tree" and "The Golden Silveree"}
Darling-NAS, pp. 64-66, "The Sweet Trinity"; "The Golden Willow Tree" (1 text plus a fragment)
Silber-FSWB, p. 213, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text)
BBI, ZN2370, "Sir Walter Rawleigh ha's built a Ship"
DT 286, VANTYGL1* VANTIGL2* VANTIGL3* VANTIGL4* (VANTYGL9)
ADDITIONAL: Walter de la Mare, _Come Hither_, revised edition, 1928; #411, "The Golden Vanity" (1 text)
ST C286 (Full)
Roud #122
RECORDINGS:
Almanac Singers, "The Golden Vanity" (General 5016B, 1941; on Almanac02, Almanac03, AlmanacCD1)
Horton Barker, "The Turkish Rebilee" (on Barker01) {Bronson's #74}
Justus Begley, "Golden Willow Tree" (AFS, 1937; on KMM)
Bill Cameron, "The Golden Vanity" (on FSB5) {Bronson's #10}
The Carter Family, "Sinking In The Lonesome Sea" (Conqueror 8644/Okeh 03160, 1936; Columbia 37756) {Bronson's #73}
Dodie Chalmers, "The Golden Victory (The Golden Vanity) (on FSBBAL2) {Bronson's #33}
Johnny Doughty, "The Golden Vanity" (on JDoughty01, HiddenE)
Warde Ford, "The Lowlands Low" [fragment] (AFS 4194 A2, 1938; in AMMEM/Cowell) {Bronson's #20}
Sam Hazel, "The Golden Willow Tree" (AFS 2095 B2, 3096 A, 3096 B1, 1939)
[Mrs.?] Ollie Jacobs, "A Ship Set Sail for North America" (AFS, 1941; on LC58) {Bronson's #86}
Paul Joines, "Green Willow Tree" (on Persis1)
Joe Kelly, "The Golden Vanity" (on Ontario1)
Paralee McCloud, "The Little Ship" (on FolkVisions1)
Jimmy Morris, "The Golden Willow Tree" (AFS, 1937; on LC58) {Bronson's #105}
New Lost City Ramblers, "Sinking in the Lonesome Sea" (on NLCR06, NLCR11)
Frank Proffitt, "Lowlands Low" [excerpt] (on USWarnerColl01)
Almeda Riddle, "Merry Golden Tree" (on LomaxCD1707)
Jean Ritchie, "The Merry Golden Tree" (on JRitchie01) {Bronson's #41}
Pete Seeger, "The Golden Vanity" (on PeteSeeger16) (Commodore 3006, n.d. -- but this may be the same recording as the General disc by the Almanac Singers)
Rob Walker, "The Lowlands Low" [fragment] (AFS 4194 A3, 1938; in AMMEM/Cowell) {Bronson's #49}
Doug Wallin, "The Golden Vanity" (on Wallins1)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(1086), "The Golden Vanity" or "The Low Lands Low," H. Such (London), 1849-1862
NLScotland, L.C.Fol.70(122a), "Lowlands Low," Poet's Box (Glasgow), 1877; also L.C.Fol.70(103b), "Lowlands Low"
CROSS_REFERENCES:
cf. "Louisiana Lowlands" (lyrics)
SAME_TUNE:
Sinking of the Great Ship (BrownII, #287, pp. 662-663, the "A" text)
ALTERNATE_TITLES:
The Lonesome Low
The Merry Golden Tree
The Sweet Kumadee
The Weep-Willow Tree
The Turkish Revoloo
Cabin Boy
Lowland Sea
Ye Gowden Vanitie
NOTES: Connecting this song with actual events is impossible even if one accepts Sir Walter Raleigh as the murderous captain. The following dates may, however, provide some guidelines:
1453 - Fall of Constantinople gives the Turks good access to the Mediterranean (Lowland) Sea.
1571 - Battle of Lepanto cripples the Turkish navy.
1588 - Voyage of the Spanish Armada. Spanish navy crippled.
As far as I know, every version lists the enemy as Spanish, Turkish, or French. It should be noted, however, that the Barbary pirates were often called "Turks," since the Ottoman Empire had (often nominal) soveriegnty over them.
Incidentally, while this song does not have a historical setting, the plot has historical antecedents; Bowers, p. 24 and note, mentions a 1605 pamphlet, "Two most unnatural and bloodie Murthers: The one by Maister Cauerly... the other by mistris Browne and her servant Peter." Apparently Peter, a servant, had been promised land and the girl's hand; when her father reneged, the young couple turned to murder.
The sinking of a ship by a youth is also apparently attested: Rodger, p. 46, says that a Saracen vessel threatened the fleet of Richard I on his way to the Third Crusade, but that one report claims it was sunk by a boy with an auger. Unfortunately, Rodger does not cite any primary sources for this account, and I don't believe sinking a ship with an auger is actually possible (by that time, ships had pumps and carpenters to plug leaks). I suspect that one of Rodger's sources actually heard a distorted version of this song.
Somewhat later, at the Battle of Sluys in 1340, the English fleet of Edward III "even [had] divers who tried to sink the enemy ships by boring holes in their hulls below water," according to Seward, p. 44. Sluys was a great English victory, but if the divers accomplished anything, I haven't heard of it. - RBW
In Fowke-Ontario 4 the drowned cabin boy returns as a ghost and -- never having said he would not sink it -- sinks the captain's ship. - BS
>>BIBLIOGRAPHY<<
Bowers: Fredson Bowers, _Elizabethan Revenge Tragedy_, 1940 (I use the 1977 Princeton paperback edition)
Rodger: N. A. M. Rodger, _The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain 660-1649_ (1997; I use the 1999 Norton edition)
Seward: Desmond Seward, _The Hundred Years War: The English in France, 1337-1453_, 1978 (I used the 1982 Atheneum paperback)
Child Ballad 286: The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)
Child --Artist --Title --Album --Year-- Length --Have
286 A.L. Lloyd The Golden Vanity (The Sweet Trinity) The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) - Vol. 5 [Reissue] 196? No
286 A.L. Lloyd The Golden Vanity (The Sweet Trinity) The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) - Vol. 3 1956 3:41 Yes
286 A.L. Lloyd The Golden Vanity Bramble Briars & Beams of the Sun 2011 No
286 Ada Moss The Merrie Golden Tree The Robert Winslow Gordon Collection No
286 Alan Mills The Golden Vanity Canada's Story in Song 1960 4:30 Yes
286 Alan Scott & Keith McKenry The Golden Vanity Travelling Through the Storm - Australian Bush Songs and Poems 1996 3:15 Yes
286 Alasdair Roberts & Friends The Golden Vanity Too Long in This Condition 2010 4:03 Yes
286 Albert R. Clark American Ship (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Albert R. Clark American Ship (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Albert R. Clark Golden Vanity (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Albert R. Clark Golden Vanity (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Alex Robb The Golden Vanity The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 Alice P. Cassidy Lowlands Low The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Allen J.M. Smith The Golden Vanity Jeannie, with the Light Brown Hair and Other Songs 2008 No
286 Almeda Riddle Merry Golden Tree Southern Journey Vol. 7: Ozark Frontier 1997 5:16 Yes
286 Almeda Riddle The Golden Willow Tree (1) The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection - Ozark Folksongs 4:58 Yes
286 Almeda Riddle The Golden Willow Tree (2) The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection - Ozark Folksongs 6:48 Yes
286 Almeda Riddle The Golden Willow Tree (3) The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection - Ozark Folksongs 7:13 Yes
286 Almeda Riddle The Golden Willow Tree (4) The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection - Ozark Folksongs 6:21 Yes
286 Amy & Karen Sinking in the Lonesome Sea 15 "Old Time" Quality Tunes & Songs 2006 3:19 Yes
286 Angelo Dornan Golden Vanity The Helen Creighton Collection No
286 Arlie Baker The Golden Vanity The Library of Congress No
286 Arthur Smith The Golden Vanity Titanic: Epic Songs of the Sea 1998 No
286 Arthur Smith The Golden Vanity 200 Years of American Heritage in Song - Country Folk Bluegrass: 100 Classics 1999 2:49 Yes
286 Asa Davis Green Willow Tree (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Asa Davis Green Willow Tree (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Astrid Nijgh De Gulden Hoorn De Razende Bol 1979 3:53 Yes
286 Aunt Jenny Wilson The Turkish Revelry Aunt Jenny Wilson - From the Collection of Fred Coon 2007 No
286 Barbara Dane Turkey Reveille Anthology of American Folk Songs [When I Was a Young Girl] 1997 4:44 Yes
286 Bascom Lamar Lunsford Merrie Golden Tree The Library of Congress No
286 Bascom Lamar Lunsford The Merry Golden Tree Minstrel of the Appalachians and His Banjo [Appalachian Minstrel] 1956 3:42 Yes
286 Bell Duncan The Golden Vanity (1) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 Bell Duncan The Golden Vanity (2) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 Belle Luther Richards Golden Vanity The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Bill Bonyun & Gene Bonyun The Golden Vanity Yankee Legend - the Story of New England Through Its Songs and Ballads 1959 No
286 Bill Cameron The Golden Vanity BBC Recordings No
286 Bill Cameron The Golden Vanity (The Sweet Trinity) The Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 5: The Child Ballads 2 1961 :55 Yes
286 Bill Schustik The Golden Vanity A Gathering of Songs 2000 No
286 Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher The Golden Vanity Song Links - A Celebration of English Traditional Songs and Their Australian Variants 2003 3:38 Yes
286 Billy Sherman Golden Vanity The Folk Singer 196? 3:01 Yes
286 Black Irish Band The Golden Vanity Twenty - Back to Basics Again 2009 No
Black Jimmie Mason The Golden Vanity The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 Bob Dylan Golden Vanity Modern Minstral 1993 6:20 Yes
286 Bob Dylan Golden Vanity Genuine Neverending Tour Covers 1988-2000 2000 6:18 Yes
286 Bob Dylan Golden Vanity Golden Vanity 1993 No
286 Bob Fox Golden Vanity The Blast 2006 6:46 Yes
286 Bob Keefe Golden Vanity Wandering Thru the Roots - A Solitary Journey Through the Roots of Folk Music 2010 No
286 Bob Pegg The Golden Vanity Keeper of the Fire - The Anthology 2006 3:35 Yes
286 Bob Pegg & Nick Strutt The Golden Vanity The Ship Builder 1974 3:32 Yes
286 Bok, Muir & Trickett The Golden Vanity The First Fifteen Years, Vol 2 1992 6:16 Yes
286 Boudewijn De Groot Noordzee Eeuwige Jeugd - Jubileumtour Live 2005 3:43 Yes
286 Boudewijn De Groot Noordzee Wonderkind Aan Het Strand - 30 Jaar Boudewijn de Groot 1996 No
286 Boudewijn De Groot Noordzee Boudewijn De Groot 1965 No
286 Boudewijn De Groot Noordzee Toen En Nu - De 40 Mooiste Liedjes Van Uw Keuze 2003 2:31 Yes
286 Brass Monkey The Old Virginia Lowlands Sound & Rumour 1999 6:53 Yes
286 Brian Peters The Golden Vanity Sheffield Folk Festival 2007 2007 3:40 Yes
286 Brian Peters The Golden Vanity Songs of Trial and Triumph 2008 3:44 Yes
286 Brian Peters & Gordon Tyrrall The Green Willow Tree The Moving Moon 2000 5:37 Yes
286 Brownie McNeil Turkey Reveille Ballads 1948 No
286 Brownie McNeil Turkey Reveille Folksongs By Brownie McNeil 1967 No
286 Bruce Hubbard The Golden Willow Tree For You, for Me - Songs of Capland, Gershwin, Sendheim, Berlin, Kern, Bernstein 2005 3:36 Yes
286 Bruce Molsky The Golden Willow Tree Soon Be Time 2006 5:38 Yes
286 Bruce Molsky & Big Hoedown Train on the Island + Golden Chain Tree Bruce Molsky & Big Hoedown 1997 No
286 Burl Ives Golden Vanity Folk Songs 2005 3:06 Yes
286 Burl Ives The Golden Vanity Another Day Another Year 1998 No
286 Burl Ives The Golden Vanity The Collection 2001 3:04 Yes
286 Burl Ives The Golden Vanity Down to the Sea in Ships - Sailing, Whaling and Fishing Songs 1956 3:11 Yes
286 Burl Ives The Golden Vanity The Wayfaring Stranger - The Golden Years of Burl Ives 2005 No
286 Burl Ives The Golden Vanity Philco's Friendly Troubadour - 20 Vintage Radio Broadcasts 1946-47 2004 No
286 Burl Ives The Golden Vanity I'm Goin' Away 2000 3:14 Yes
286 Burl Ives The Golden Vanity Burl Ives Sings His Favourites 1996 3:18 Yes
286 Burl Ives Turkey Reveille Ballads with Guitar 1959 No
286 Burl Ives The Golden Vanity The Singing Wayfarer 2007 No
286 Carl Peterson The Golden Vanity Drifting with Michener 2006 No
286 Carl Peterson Golden Vanity Pirate Songs, Sea Songs & Shanties 2006 No
286 Celia Farran Golden Vanity Fire in the Head 2000 3:23 Yes
286 Charles Jordan The Green Willow Tree Canadian Folk Songs - Chansons Folkloriques du Canada [Canadian Folk Songs: a Centennial Collection] 1967 2:46 Yes
286 Crimson Pirates Golden Vanity Your Day in the Barrel 2003 No
286 Crooked Still The Golden Vanity Crooked Still Live 2008 No
286 Crooked Still The Golden Vanity Some Strange Country 2010 4:16 Yes
286 Crows The Lonesome Sea Crows 1981 3:36 Yes
286 Cyril Tawney The Merry Golden Tree Little Boy Billee - Sea Songs for Children 1992 3:54 Yes
286 Cyril Tawney The Merry Golden Tree The Song Goes On 2007 No
286 Dáithí Sproule The Turkish Revery A Heart Made of Glass 1993 4:16 Yes
286 Dan Dutton The Merry Golden Tree Pull, Pick, Pluck 2004 5:15 Yes
286 Dan Evans The Golden Vanity Guardian Spirit 1993 4:13 Yes
286 Dan Keding The Golden Vanity Promises Kept, Promises Broken 2001 4:38 Yes
286 Daniel Dragon Golden Vanistee The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Daniel Dragon Golden Vanity The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Dave Williams Golden Vanity John Howson Collection 1970-1995 No
286 David Coffin The Old Virginia Lowlands, Low Civil War Naval Songs - Period Ballads from the Union and Confederate Navies, and the Home Front 2011 No
286 David Jones The Golden Vanity Easy and Slow 1975 2:38 Yes
286 David McIntosh The Golden Willow Tree The Library of Congress
No
286 Diana Haney The Little Ship The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection 3:31 Yes
286 DocWood The Golden Vanity The Golden Vanity 2001 No
286 Dodie Chalmers The Golden Victory The Green Wedding - The Classic Ballads 3 1976 No
286 Dodie Chalmers The Golden Victory BBC Recordings No
286 Dodie Chambers The Golden Victory (The Golden Vanity) Classic Ballads of Britain & Ireland - Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales, Vol 2 2000 3:52 Yes
286 Dodie Chalmers The Golden Victory The Voice of the People, Vol. 23: Good People, Take Warning - Ballads sung by British and Irish Traditional Singers 2012 No
286 Doug & Jack Wallin The Golden Vanity Family Songs and Stories from the North Carolina Mountains 1995 3:23 Yes
286 Douglas Kennedy Goulden Vanitee <website> 1946 2:53 Yes
286 Dr. Leroy Cook The Golden Vanity (1) Ben Gray Lumpkin Digital Folk Music Collection 1950-1970 :47 Yes
286 Dr. Leroy Cook The Golden Vanity (2) Ben Gray Lumpkin Digital Folk Music Collection 1950-1970 :31 Yes
286 Dry Branch Fire Squad The Golden Vanity Fannin' the Flames 1990 4:17 Yes
286 Duncan Williamson The Golden Vanity Travellers' Tales Vol 2 - Songs, Stories & Ballads from Scottish Travellers 2005
No
286 Earl B. Smith Golden Vanity The Helen Creighton Collection No
286 Edward Flower & Joel Brown The Golden Vanity Chords & Thyme - English Folksongs for Guitar 1994 2:19 Yes
286 Elmer George Golden Willow Tree (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Elmer George Golden Willow Tree (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Elmer George The Golden Willow Tree The Library of Congress No
286 Emily J. Chism Golden Willow Tree The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Emma Williamson The Golden Vanity Someone Was Calling - Folk on the Pier Celebrates 100 Years of Cromer's Lifeboats 2004 No
286 Ewan MacColl The "Sweet Kumadie" English & Scottish Folk Ballads [1996] 1996 4:24 Yes
286 Ewan MacColl The "Sweet Kumadie" English & Scottish Folk Ballads [1964] 1964 No
286 Ewan MacColl The Sweet Kumadee - The Sweet Trinity The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (Child Ballads) - Vol. 2 1964 4:42 Yes
286 Ewan MacColl The Sweet Kumadie The Definitive Collection [Ewan MacColl] 2003 4:26 Yes
286 Ewan MacColl The Golden Vanity (The Merry Golden Tree) Scotland 1951, 1953, and 1958 (Lomax T3469) 1957 1:49 Yes
286 Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger The Golden Vanity Matching Songs of the British Isles and America 1957 No
286 Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger The Golden Vanity Everybody Sing, Vol. 3 - Songs for Seniors 196? No
286 Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger The Sweet Kumadee Matching Songs of the British Isles and America 1957 No
286 Faustus The Green Willow Tree Faustus 2008 4:41 Yes
286 Frank Proffitt Lowland Low The Warner Collection, Vol. 1 - Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still 2000 1:06 Yes
286 Frank Proffitt The Lowland Low (The Golden Vanity) Bolamkin - Frank Proffitt - 1 1987 No
286 Fred Starner Golden Vanity Hobos & the Wind 1997 5:14 Yes
286 Gary, Margaret, Megan & Dan MacArthur The Weeping Willow Tree Make the Wildwoods Ring 1982 5:24 Yes
286 George Edwards Golden Vanity The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 George Simpson The Golden Vanity (1) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 George Simpson The Golden Vanity (2) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 George Vinton Graham The Lowlands Low California Gold - Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collected By Sidney Robertson Cowell 193? 1:08 Yes
286 Gibb 'Ranzo' Schreffler [Hulton Clint] The Lowlands Low (B) <website> 2008- :24 Yes
286 Gibb 'Ranzo' Schreffler [Hulton Clint] The Lowlands Low (The Golden Vanitee) <website> 2008- 4:54 Yes
286 Gibb 'Ranzo' Schreffler [Hulton Clint] Lowlands Low (C) <website> 2008- :24 Yes
286 Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo Muir & Ed Trickett The Golden Vanity The Ways of Man 1978 6:23 Yes
286 Gordon McIntyre & Mike Ball The Golden Vanity Soldiers and Sailors - Folksingers of Australia Series, Vol. Two 1968 No
286 Graham Moore Golden Vanity Tom Paine's Bones 1995 No
286 Gus & Kati & The Mighty Ghosts of Heaven The Golden Vanity Werewolf 2004 No
286 Hanford Hayes Lowlands Low The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Harriet Gott Murphy Lowlands Low The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Horton Barker The Turkish Rebelee (The Sweet Trinity) Virginia Traditions - Ballads from British Tradition 1993 3:44 Yes
286 Horton Barker The Turkish Rebilee Traditional Singer 1962 4:27 Yes
286 Horton Barker The Turkish Reveille The Library of Congress No
286 Ian Bell The Green Willow Tree (Golden Vanity) My Pious Friends & Drunken Companions 2009 No
286 Ian Manuel Sweet Kumadie The Dales of Caledonia 1976 o
286 Ian Manuel The Sweet Kumadee Scottish Voices - Great Performances from the Scottish Singing Tradition 1996 3:41 Yes
286 Ian Manuel The Sweet Kumadee Celtic Reflections 1998 No
286 J.E. Mainer Golden Willow Tree The Legendary J.E. Mainer, Vol.11 1970 2:31 Yes
286 Jack Little The Turkish Revillie The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection 4:28 Yes
286 James Clifton Ferrell Gold China Tree The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection - Ozark Folksongs 2:40 Yes
286 James Forman Lowlands Low The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 James Forman The Lowlands The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 James Harlan Martin The Golden Vanity Ben Gray Lumpkin Digital Folk Music Collection 1950-1970 3:03 Yes
286 James Lewin Golden Vanity The Helen Creighton Collection No
286 James Maher The Golden Vanity MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada 1951 No
286 Jean Ritchie The Merry Golden Tree British Traditional Ballads in the Southern Mountains - Child Ballads, Vol 1 1961 2:09 Yes
286 Jean Ritchie The Merry Golden Tree Ballads from Her Appalachian Family Tradition 2003 2:12 Yes
286 Jez Lowe & Linda Adams The Golden Vanity A Selection from the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs 1994 3:54 Yes
286 Jill Rogoff The Golden Vanity Across the Narrow Seas 1997 6:25 Yes
286 Jimmy Morris The Golden Willow Tree Child Ballads Traditional in the United States, Vol. II 1960 4:38 Yes
286 Jimmy Morris The Golden Willow Tree The Library of Congress No
286 Jody Stecher The Golden Vanity Going Up on the Mountain - The Classic First Recordings 2000 5:30 Yes
286 Joe Kelly The Golden Vanity Folk Songs of Ontario 1958 4:23 Yes
286 Joe Kelly The Golden Vanity The Edith Fowke Collection No
286 Joel Mabus The Golden Willow Tree Golden Willow Tree 2004 No
286 John Faulkner & Sandra Kerr The Sweet Trinity Poetry and Song, Vol. 3 1967 No
286 John Jacob Niles The Weep-Willow Tree The Ballads of John Jacob Niles 1960 4:13 Yes
286 John Kadlecik The Golden Vanity Live at Boulder Theater, Boulder, CO 2003 4:33 Yes
286 John Langstaff The Golden Vanity John Langstaff Sings - Archival Folk Collection 1949-1961 2004 No
286 John Langstaff The Golden Vanity Nottamun Town: British and American Folk Songs and Ballads 2003 2:44 Yes
286 John MacDonald + John Reid The Golden Vanity Scottish Tradition 24: Songs and Ballads from Perthshire 2011 No
286 John Roberts The Weeping Willow Tree Sea Fever - Songs of Ships and the Sea 2007 6:23 Yes
286 John Roberts The Golden Vanity 25th Annual Sea Music Festival at Mystic Seaport 2004 No
286 John Roberts & Tony Barrand The Golden Vanity Twiddlum Twaddlum - Live in Concert 2003 3:01 Yes
286 Johnny Doughty The Golden Vanity Round Rye Bay for More - Traditional Songs from the Sussex Coast 1977 3:14 Yes
286 Johnny Doughty The Golden Vanity Hidden English - A Celebration of English Traditional Music 1996 3:12 Yes
286 Jonathan Moses Lowlands Low (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Jonathan Moses Lowlands Low (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Jonathan Moses Lowlands Low (3) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Joseph Able Trivett The Golden Willow Tree Joseph Able Trivett of Butler, Tennessee 1962 No
286 Judy Cook The Weeping Willow Tree Far from the Lowlands 2000 5:14 Yes
286 June Carter Cash Sinking in the Lonesome Sea Wildwood Flower 2003 4:40 Yes
286 Justis Begley Golden Willow Tree Kentucky Mountain Music - Classic Recordings of the 1920s & 1930s 2003 4:12 Yes
286 Justis Begley The Golden Willow Tree The Library of Congress No
286 Justus Begley The Golden Willow Tree The Library of Congress - Archive of Folk Culture: Anglo-American Ballads, Vol. 2 1999 5:46 Yes
286 Keltic Kaleidoscope Golden Vanity Keltic Beginnings 1999 3:01 Yes
286 Kempion Sweet Trinity Kempion 1977 4:25 Yes
286 L.J. Slavin The Golden Vanity Marching Through Georgia - Music Inspired By the Steppenwolf Production 'The March' 2012 No
286 Lack of Limits The Golden Vanity Out of the Ashes 2002 7:11 Yes
286 Lack of Limits Golden Vanity Live Too 2004 11:34 Yes
286 Lance Frodsham & Friends The Golden Vanity A Branch of May - English Songs & Ballads 2001 4:16 Yes
286 LaRena Clark The Golden Vanity (1) The Edith Fowke Collection No
286 LaRena Clark The Golden Vanity (2) The Edith Fowke Collection No
286 Leahys Luck The Golden Vanity Leahy's Luck 1995 2:33 Yes
286 Lena Bourne Fish Weeping Willow Tree (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Lena Bourne Fish Weeping Willow Tree (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Lena Bourne Fish Weeping Willow Tree (3) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Lew Dite Golden Vanity <website> [Lew Dite] 2007- 3:30 Yes
286 Leza Mesiah The Golden Vanity More of the Moor of Dundee 2008 No
286 Linda Russell The Golden Vanity The Good Old Colony Days - 18th Century Folk Music 1984 No
286 Lionel Long The Golden Vanity Songs of the Sea 1964 5:10 Yes
286 Lonnie Donegan The Golden Vanity More Than 'Pye in the Skye' 1993 2:35 Yes
286 Lonnie Donegan The Golden Vanity Rock Island Line: The Singles Anthology 1955-1967 2002 2:35 Yes
286 Lori Watson and Rule of Three Vanity Pleasure's Coin 2009 6:16 Yes
286 Loudon Wainwright III Turkish Revelry Rogue's Gallery - Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys 2006 4:22 Yes
286 Mac Murrough The Lowlands Low Merry & Fine 1978 2:49 Yes
286 Martha Martin The Golden Vanity (1) Ben Gray Lumpkin Digital Folk Music Collection 1950-1970 :16 Yes
286 Martha Martin The Golden Vanity (2) Ben Gray Lumpkin Digital Folk Music Collection 1950-1970 3:12 Yes
286 Martin Francis The Golden Vanity Ancient By-Ways 2002 No
286 Martin Simpson Golden Vanity Golden Vanity 1976 No
286 Martyn Wyndham-Read The Golden Vanity Song Links - A Celebration of English Traditional Songs and Their Australian Variants 2003 3:57 Yes
286 Mary Fitzgerald Lowlands Low The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Mary Smith The Golden Vanity Of Rogues and Lovers 2003 3:53 Yes
286 Mary Swain The Golden Vanitie (1) Tapioca's Big Toe - Traditions & Customs of Tristan De Cunha (S. Atlantic) 1977 No
286 Mary Swain The Golden Vanitie (2) Tapioca's Big Toe - Traditions & Customs of Tristan De Cunha (S. Atlantic) 1977 No
286 Maude Lyman Stevens Golden Vanity The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 May Griffiths The Golden Vanity Nick & Mally Dow Collection 1986-1991 3:03 Yes
286 Michael Soloway The Golden Vanity Fast Folk Musical Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 2 - Heroic Torso 1985 6:06 Yes
286 Mike Seeger The Golden Willow Tree True Vine 2003 7:01 Yes
286 Milt Okun The Golden Vanity Folk Song Kit [How to Play Folk Guitar] 1958 No
286 Mindy Simmons Golden Vanity Live in Pittsburgh 2005 4:40 Yes
286 Molly Tenenbaum Golden Willow Tree Goose and Gander - Songs for Old-Time Banjo 2010 No
286 Mrs. A.R. Blake Golden Victory The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Mrs. Alice Cassidy Lowlands Low The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Mrs. Allie Long Parker Turkish Sugarlee The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection 4:29 Yes
286 Mrs Cameron The Golden Vanity The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 Mrs. Carrie Walker The Merry Golden Tree The Library of Congress No
286 Mrs. Christina Henry Golden Vanity The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Mrs. Edward Gallagher Golden Vanity (1) The Helen Creighton Collection No
286 Mrs. Edward Gallagher Golden Vanity (2) The Helen Creighton Collection No
286 Mrs. Elmer George Golden Victory The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Mrs. Frederick Waters Virginal Three The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Mrs. Mabel Pease Louisiana Lowlands Low The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Mrs. Myra Barnett Miller The Golden Willow Tree The Library of Congress No
286 Mrs. Myra Daniels Golden Willow Tree The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Mrs. Polly Johnson The Golden Willow Tree The Library of Congress No
286 Mrs. Rosie Houghton Golden Vanity The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Mrs. T.M. Bryant The Low and Lonesome Low The Library of Congress No
286 Mrs. Thelma McAra The Golden Vanity The Edith Fowke Collection No
286 Mrs. Vera Keating Golden Vanity The Edith Fowke Collection No
286 Naomi Ingalls Green Willow Tree The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Neil Hannon & Gita Turkish Revelry Rogues Gallery - Live at the Barbican, London 2008 2008 5:46 Yes
286 Neriah & Kenneth Benfield Weeping Willow Tree Mountain Music Played on the Autoharp 1965 1:57 Yes
286 Odetta The Golden Vanity Odetta Sings Folk Songs 1963 3:54 Yes
286 Oliva Hauser Green Willow Tree The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection 4:30 Yes
286 Oliver Bootle The Golden Vanity Oliver Bootle 1997 No
286 Ollie Gilbert Golden Willow Tree The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection 2:32 Yes
286 Ollie Jacobs A Ship Set Sail for North America Child Ballads Traditional in the United States, Vol. II 1960 3:01 Yes
286 Oscar Brand Golden Vanity ? - 2:52 Yes
286 Paddie Bell The Golden Vanity Paddie - Herself + I Know Where I'm Going 2001 No
286 Paralee McCloud The Little Ship (The Golden Vanity) Folk Visions and Voices - Traditional Music and Song in Northern Georgia, Vol. 1 1984 2:14 Yes
286 Paul Austin Kelly & Richard Durrant The Golden Vanity Unleashed on British Isles 2004 3:53 Yes
286 Paul Clayton The Turkish Revelee Whaling and Sailing Songs 1997 3:41 Yes
286 Paul Evans Golden Vanity Folks Songs of Many Lands 1961 3:33 Yes
286 Paul Joines The Green Willow Tree Ballads and Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains - Persistence and Change 1968 4:21 Yes 286 Paul Lorette Lowlands Low The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 Peggy Ashcroft & Martin Best The Golden Vanity Sense and Nonsense 1976 No
286 Peggy Seeger The Turkey Shivaree A Song for You and Me 1960 6:15 Yes
286 Pete Castle The Golden Vanitee Golden Vanitee - Folk Songs for Older Children 1997 No
286 Pete Seeger Golden Vanity American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 3 [2004] 2004 3:51 Yes
286 Pete Seeger The Golden Vanity American Ballads 1957 3:58 Yes
286 Pete Seeger The Golden Vanity American Industrial Ballads .. and More 2007 No
286 Pete Seeger The Golden Vanity American Folk Anthology [Pete Seeger] 2008 3:48 Yes
286 Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie Golden Vanity Together in Concert 1975 4:14 Yes
286 Pete Seeger & The Almanac Singers The Golden Vanity Pioneer of Folk - 20 Great Songs 1999 3:05 Yes
286 Pete Seeger & The Almanac Singers The Golden Vanity Folk Songs 2005 3:05 Yes
286 Peter, Paul & Mary Golden Vanity Flowers and Stones 1990 4:27 Yes
286 Peter Christie The Golden Vanity The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 Peter Siegel The Golden Vanity The Show 2004 5:06 Yes
286 Peter Stanley, Virginia Stanley, Alfred Scott & Meredith Scott The Golden Vanity Hard Times in the Country 1974 3:34 Yes
286 Peter Yarrow & Bethany Yarrow The Golden Vanity Favorite Folk Songs - The Peter Yarrow Songbook 2008 3:41 Yes
286 Pop Wagner The Golden Vanity Spark of Life 2002 No
286 Raymond Crooke The Golden Vanity <website> 2007- 5:06 Yes
286 Richard Dyer-Bennet Golden Vanity Folk Songs 1953 No
286 Richard Dyer-Bennet The Golden Vanity Richard Dyer-Bennet Vol. 5 2001 3:44 Yes
286 Richard Dyer-Bennet The Golden Vanity Olden Ballads 1952 No
286 Richard Dyer-Bennet The Turkish Revery Richard Dyer-Bennet Vol. 2 2001 2:50 Yes
286 Richard Hartlan Golden Vallady The Helen Creighton Collection No
286 Richard Levitt, Charles Byrd & Carl Tucker Golden Vanity Wayfaring Stranger 1960 3:14 Yes
286 Rick Lee The Merry Golden Tree Look What Thoughts Will Do 2005 4:31 Yes
286 Rob McNurlin The Golden Vanity Buffalo Skinners 2004 3:23 Yes
286 Rob McNurlin The Golden Vanity Live at Paramount Arts Center's Marquee Room, Ashland, KY 2004 4:17 Yes
286 Roger McGuinn Golden Vanity Folk Den Podcast 1995- 2:34 Yes
286 Roger McGuinn Golden Vanity The Folk Den Project - 1995-2005 2005 2:32 Yes
286 Ronnie Gilbert The Golden Vanity Folk Song and Minstrelsy 1961 3:23 Yes
286 Rory Block The Golden Vanity Best Blues and Originals 1995 4:48 Yes
286 Rory Block The Golden Vanity Rhinestones & Steel Strings 1990 4:46 Yes
286 Sam Hazel Golden Willow Tree The Library of Congress No
286 Samuel Harmon The Merry Golden Tree The Library of Congress No
286 Sandy Dolby Golden Vanity Wedding Song 2007 4:20 Yes
286 Sara Grey The Merry Willow Tree Old Songs & Bothy Ballads - Grand to Be a Working Man 2008 No
286 Sarah Morgan & Jeff Gillett The Golden Willow Tree The Flowers and the Wine 2012 No
286 Scott & Stanley The Golden Vanity Hard Times in the Country 1974 No
286 Shanua Lowlands Away + The Golden Vanity Salmagundi 1990 6:47 Yes
286 Shep Ginandes The Golden Willow Tree British Traditional Ballads in America Vol 1 1953 No
286 Sittercity The Golden Vanity Sittercity Sings! 2005 1:57 Yes
286 Sláinte Golden Vanity Sláinte 1978 2:43 Yes
286 Spider John Koerner & Willie Murphy The Golden Vanity StarGeezer 1996 3:22 Yes
286 Stan Hugill & Stormalong John Golden Vanitee A Salty Fore Topman 1989 No
286 Stanley James The Green Willow Tree The Edith Fowke Collection No
286 Steeleye Span The Golden Vanity The Best of British Folk Rock 1996 No
286 Steeleye Span The Golden Vanity A Stroll Through the Park 1999 5:44 Yes
286 Steeleye Span The Golden Vanity Time [Video] 1996 5:43 Yes
286 Susan Chilcott The Golden Willow Tree Voices Vol. 3: The Gift to Be Free - Songs By Aaron Copland 2003 3:36 Yes
286 Susan Reed The Golden Vanity O Love Is Teasin' - Anglo-American Mountain Balladry 1985 2:49 Yes
286 Susan Reed The Golden Vanity Susan Reed Sings Old Airs 1957 No
286 Sylvia Herold & Euphonia The Turkish Revery Lovely Nancy 2005 No
286 Telford & Charmaine The Merry Golden Tree The Golden Bird 1969 No
286 Terrea Lea The Turkish Revery Folk Songs & Ballads 1957 2:52 Yes
286 The Almanac Singers The Golden Vanity Songs of Protest 2001 3:07 Yes
286 The Almanac Singers The Golden Vanity Which Side Are You On? The Best of the Almanac Singers 2006 3:05 Yes
286 The Almanac Singers The Golden Vanity Their Complete General Recordings 1996 3:13 Yes
286 The Almanac Singers The Golden Vanity Songs for Political Action - Folkmusic, Topical Songs and the American Left 1926-1951 1996 3:05 Yes
286 The Almanac Singers The Golden Vanity Folk Songs 2005 3:05 Yes
286 The Almanac Singers The Golden Vanity The Sea, The Soil & The Struggle 2004 3:04 Yes
286 The Almanac Singers The Golden Vanity This Land Is Your Land 2011 2:37 Yes
286 The Askew Sisters The Old Virginia Lowlands All in a Garden Green 2007 5:14 Yes
286 The Askew Sisters The Old Virginia Lowlands Live at Sidmouth Folkweek 2007 2007 5:17 Yes
286 The Askew Sisters The Old Virginia Lowlands Folk Rising 2 2008 No
286 The Brothers Four The Gallant Argosy Rally 'Round! 196? No
286 The Carter Family Sinking in the Lonesome Sea In the Shadow of Clinch Mountain 2000 3:18 Yes
286 The Carter Family Sinking in the Lonesome Sea Can the Circle Be Unbroken - Country Music's First Family 2000 3:16 Yes
286 The Carter Family Sinking in the Lonesome Sea The Carter Family, Vol. 2: 1935-1941 2002 3:18 Yes
286 The Chad Mitchell Trio Golden Vanity The Chad Mitchell Trio Collection: Original Kapp Recordings 1997 2:52 Yes
286 The Chad Mitchell Trio Golden Vanity At the Bitter End - Recorded Live 1964 2:52 Yes
286 The Corsairs Golden Vanity The Corsairs [The Blue One] 1999 2:11 Yes
286 The Crimson Pirates Golden Vanity The New York Renaissance Faire 2007 2007 2:45 Yes
286 The Dublin Overs The Golden Vanity <website> - 2:20 Yes
286 The Friends of Fiddler's Green The Golden Vanity This Side of the Ocean 1997 4:13 Yes
286 The Gaugers The Sweet Kumadee Awa' Wi' the Rovin Sailor 1994 4:40 Yes
286 The Hibernia Consort The Golden Vanity Crossing the Line - The Romance of the Sea in Song 2009 No
286 The High Strange Drifters The Golden Vanity Ancient Tones and Death Knells - Broadside Ballads 2003 5:21 Yes
286 The Irish Brigade The Golden Vanity The Irish Brigade Live 3:02 Yes
286 The Iron Mountain String Band Merry Golden Tree The Iron Mountain String Band - An Old Time Southern Mountain String Band 1973 5:46 Yes
286 The Jolly Rogues Golden Vanity Hicks the Pirate 2010 No
286 The Kimble Family Golden Chain Tree Carroll County Pioneers - Vol. 1 1992 No
286 The Kinsfolk The Golden Vanity Up on the Mountain 1969 2:40 Yes
286 The Larrikins The Golden Vanity The Larrikin Sessions - A Panorama of Australian Folk Songs from the City & Bush 2000 3:51 Yes
286 The London Critics Group Sweet Trinity Living Folk 1970 2:17 Yes
286 The New Lost City Ramblers Lonesome Sea Old Timey Music 1964 No
286 The New Lost City Ramblers Sinking in the Lonesome Sea Gone to the Country 1963 3:58 Yes
286 The Outside Track The Turkish Revery Curious Things Given Wings 2010 No
286 The Packmen Golden Vanity The Packmen's Blue Record 1978 No
286 The Phipps Family Sinking of the Golden Merry Tree The Phipps Family 1965 3:52 Yes
286 The Red Clay Ramblers The Golden Vanity Stolen Love 1975 No
286 The Revels The Golden Vanity Blow, Ye Winds in the Morning - A Celebration of the Sea, Traditional Sea Songs, Dances and Chantays 1994 2:39 Yes
286 The Rite of Spring The Golden Vanity Seaward Robin & Crystal Creek 1978-1982 2000 No
286 Tim Laycock The Bold Granadee + Jack’s Alive Sea Strands - Folk Songs and Tunes from Dorset 2011 No
286 Tom Glazer The Golden Vanity The Ballad of Namu, the Killer Whale, Live and Let Live and Other Ballads of Adventure 1966 No
286 Tom Glazer & Pat Moffitt The Golden Vanity The Musical Heritage of America 1973 4:22 Yes
286 Tom Paxton The Golden Vanity American Troubadour 2003 3:03 Yes
286 Tommy Makem Golden Vanity The Song Tradition 1998 4:06 Yes
286 Tony Rose Golden Vanitee Young Hunting 1970 4:13 Yes
286 Tony Rose Golden Vanitee Exe 2008 5:31 Yes
286 Unidentified Singer Lowlands Low The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 W. Rennie The Golden Vanity The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
286 Warde Ford The Low Lands Low, or the Golden Willow Tree Wolf River Songs 1956 3:36 Yes
286 Warde Ford The Lowlands Low California Gold - Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collected By Sidney Robertson Cowell 193? 1:28 Yes
286 Warren Fahey The Golden Vanity Australia - Folk Songs and Bush Verse - Across the Seven Seas - The Australian Maritime Collection 2001 No
286 Warren Fahey Golden Vanity A Panorama of Bush Songs 2009 No
286 Warren Fahey & The Larrikins The Golden Vanity Limejuice and Vinegar 1977 3:12 Yes
286 Welby Toomey Golden Willow Tree Golden Willow Tree 1925 No
286 Will Barry French Gallee The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
286 William Martin The Golden Vanity Ben Gray Lumpkin Digital Folk Music Collection 1950-1970 2:49 Yes
286 Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston The Golden Vanity The Stinson Collectors Series - Vols. 1 & 2 1994 No
286 Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston The Golden Vanity Archive of Folk Music [Cisco Houston] 1970 2:33 Yes
286 Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston The Golden Vanity Deja Vu Definitive Gold 2006 No
286 Wren Trust Golden Vanity Dead Maid's Land - Traditional songs from Devon and Cornwall from the collection of Sabine Baring-Gould 1998 3:45 Yes
Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America
by Tristram Coffin 1950, from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
286. THE SWEET TRINITY (THE GOLDEN VANITY)
Texts: Anderson, Coll Bids Sgs, 53 / Barry, Brit Bids Me, 339 / Belden, Mo F-S, 97 / Berea Quarterly, XVIII, 18 / Bowles, Am F-S / Brewster, Bids Sgs Ind, r 58 / Brown Coll / BFSSNE, V, 10 / Cambiaire, Ea Tenn Wstn Va Mt Bids, 93 / Calmer, Am Sings, 185 / Chappell, F-S' Rnke Alb, 43 / Colcord, Roll and Go, 79 / Colcord, Sgs Am Sailormen, 154 / Coleman and Bregman, Sgs Am Flk, 16 / Cox, F-S South, 169 / Cox, Trd Bid W Va, 52 / Cox, W. Va. School Journal and Educator, XLV, 58 / Creighton, Sgs Bids N Sc, 20 / Davis^ Trd Bid Va, 516 / Duncan, No Hamilton Cnty, in / Flanders, Cntry Sgs Vt, 40 / Flanders F' F-S Bids,
230 / Focus^ IV, *5$ / Gardner and Chickering, Bids Sea Sgs So Mich, 214 / Greenleaf and Mansfield, Bids Sea Sgs Newfdld, 43 / Harper's Mgz (May, 1 915), 912 / Henry, F-S So Hgblds, 127 / Hudson, F-S Miss, 125 / Hudson, Spec Miss F-L, #22 / Hummel, Os F-S / JAFL, XVIII, 125; XXIII, 381, 4295 XXX> 33M XLV, 25; XLVIII, 3125 LII, n / Lomax and Lomax, Our Sgng Cntry, 210 / Macintosh, So III F-S, 21 / McDonald, Selctd F-S Mo, 17 / McGill, F-S Ky Mts, 97 / Minish Mss / Morris, F-S Fla, 476 / Musical Quarterly, III, 374 / Niles, Anglo Am Bid Sidy Bk, 28 / Niles, Bids Lv Sgs Tgc Lgds, 18 / Ozark Life, VI, # i /
Perry, Carter Cnty, 197 / Pound, Am Bids Sgs, 24 / Raine, Land Sddle Bags, 121 / Randolph, Oz F-Sj I, 195 / Randolph, The Ozarks, 177 / Richardson, Am Mt Sgs, 28 / Elizabeth M. Roberts, The Great Meadow, N.Y., 1930, 34 / Scarborough, Sgctchr So Mts, 184 / SharpC, Eng F-S So Aplcbns, #35 / SharpK, Eng F-S So Aplcbns, I, 282 / Shearin and Combs, Ky Syllabus, 9 / Shoemaker, Mt Mnstly, 132, 299 / Shoemaker, No Pa Mnstly, 126 / Singer's Journd, II, 686 / Smith and Rufty, Am Anth Old Wrld Bids, 59 / SFLQ, II, 79 / Va FLS Bidl, s 3, 4, 8 10 / Wyman and Brockway, Lnsme Tunes, 72.
Local Titles: A Ship Set Sail for North America, Gold China Tree, Golden Vallady, Low Down Lonesome Low, Merry (Mary) Golden Tree, Sailing in the Lowlands Low, Sinking in the Lowlands Low, The Cruise in the Lowlands Low, The French Galilee, The Gold China Tree, The Golden Merrilee, The Golden Vanity, The Golden Willow Tree, The Green Willow Tree, The Little Cabin Boy, The Little Ship, The Lonesome Low, The Lonesome Sea, The Lowlands, The Lowland Sea, The Lowlands Low, The Pirate Ship, The Turkey-rogherlee and the Yellow Golden Tree, The Turkey Shivaree, The Weep-willow Tree.
Story Types: A: A boat is sailing in the lowlands when attacked by a feared pirate. A cabin boy volunteers to sink the robbers. As a reward, he is to get money and the hand of the captain's daughter. He accomplishes his task by swimming to the other ship and cutting some gashes in her. The pirate goes down. When the boy has swum back to his ship, the captain refuses to keep his word. Out of respect for his mates or the girl, the boy reluctantly does not sink the captain's boat. He either dies of exhaustion in the water or in a hammock on deck after his mates hoist him aboard.
Examples: Barry (A), Davis (A), SharpK (A).
B: The story is the same as that of Type A. However, the cabin boy is rescued by his shipmates. He scorns the gold and fee, but accepts the girl's hand in marriage. Examples: JAFL; XVIII, 125.
C: The story is identical to that of Type A. However, the ghost of the boy returns to haunt the captain or the Lowlands.
Examples: Belden (A), Coleman and Bregman.
D: The usual story is told. But, after the boy drowns, the crew throws the captain overboard and drowns him.
Examples: Shoemaker, Mt Mnstly, p. 132.
E : The usual story is told. However, the boy swears that he will sink the captain, too. Examples : Shoemaker, Mt Mnstly, p. 299.
Discussion: The American versions of this song should not be confused with the later Lowlands Low group (Toung Edmund) which traces back to the English Toung Edwin in the Lowlands Low series.
The Sweet Trinity in this country does not really follow any of the Child versions textually, although there is on the whole a closer resemblance to Child B and C than to Child A. In America, Sir Walter Raleigh is no longer connected with the song, the ships have "Golden Vanity" and "Turkish (also Russian, Irish, French, etc.) Revelee" names which may vary with historical circumstances, and a more positive ending.
The New World story types differ with respect to the conclusion only, Type A resembles Child A (though in a more definite form) and/or Child C, but cannot be said to parallel either. The gallant refusal by the cabin boy to follow his inclinations to sink the captain's ship is only in America. Type B seems definitely derived from Child B, but also is more definite, while Types
C, D, and E reflect the desire for justice to be done, and in the case of Type E for revenge as well. Colcord, Roll and Go, 79 and JAFL, XVIII, 125 reflect the American tendency to sentimentalize.
The Colcord, SgsAmSailormen, 154 text contains a great deal of sea lingo, while the Henry, F-S So Hgblds, 130, B version finds the Golden Willow Tree sunk by a lad from the Turkish Revelee. Note also BFSSNE, V, n in the text printed there the boy "upsets the tea-kettle and drowns all the mice".
Barry, Brit Bids Me, 347 points out that the similarity between the southern and New England versions of this ballad indicates that the height of the song's popularity in England was at the time of the big American emigration.
For a parody of the song, see Sandburg, Am Sgbag, 343. For other college versions, note The American College Songster (Ann Arbor, Mich., 1876), 101; Waite's Carmina Collegensia (Boston, cop. 1868), 171; and White's Student Life in Song (Boston, cop. 1879), 58.
Folk Index: The Golden Vanity [Ch 286/Sh 41/Me I-A16]
Rt - Louisiana Lowlands, Low
At - Sweet Trinity ; Little Cabin Boy ; Mary Golden Lee ; Yellow Golden Tree ; Sailing in the Lowlands Low ; Turkish Rover ; Gallant Victory
Pb - Sinking of the Graf Spee
Scott, John Anthony (ed.) / Ballad of America, Grosset & Dunlap, Bk (1967), p138
Friedman, Albert B. (ed.) / Viking Book of Folk Ballads of the English-S, Viking, sof (1963/1957), p409 [1869]
Lloyd, A. L. & Isabel Arete de Ramon y Rivera (eds.) / Folk Songs of the, Oak, Sof (1966), # 30 (Low Down Lonesome Low)
Best, Dick & Beth (eds.) / New Song Fest Deluxe, Hansen, Sof (1971/1948), p128
Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p201
Luboff, Norman; and Win Stracke (eds.) / Songs of Man, Prentice-Hall, Bk (1966), p194 (Merry Golden Tree)
Palmer, Roy (ed.) / Oxford Book of Sea Songs, Oxford, Bk (1986), p 47/# 22 [1684ca] (Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing in the Lowlands)
Boni, Margaret Bradford (ed.) / Fireside Book of Folk Songs, Simon & Schuster, Bk (1947), p172
Richardson, Ethel Park / American Mountain Songs, Greenberg, Bk (1927/1955), p 28 (Mary Golden Tree)
Leisy, James F. (ed.) / Folk Song Abecedary, Bonanza, Bk (1966), p128
Leach, MacEdward / The Ballad Book, Harper & Row, Bk (1955), p667 (Sweet Trinity)
Leach, MacEdward / The Ballad Book, Harper & Row, Bk (1955), P668 (Sweet Trinity)
Leach, MacEdward / The Ballad Book, Harper & Row, Bk (1955), p669
Leach, MacEdward / The Heritage Book of Ballads, Heritage, Bk (1967), p 89
Adkins, John B.. Cox, John Harrington (ed.) / Folk-Songs of the South, Dover, Sof (1967/1925), p169/# 32A [1916/04/01] (Green Willow Tree)
Allen, Andrew W.. Hubbard, Lester A. / Ballads and Songs from Utah, Univ. of Utah, Bk (1961), p 44/# 18B [1947ca]
Allison, John. Heroes, Heroines and Mishaps, Ficker C 10001, LP (1957), trk# A.05
Almanac Singers. Their Complete General Recordings, MCA MCAD 11499, CD (1996), trk# 12 [1941/07/07]
Barker, Horton. Chase, Richard (ed.) / American Folk Tales and Songs, Dover, sof (1971/1956), p120 [1930-40's] (Merry Golden Tree)
Barron, James R.. Pound, Louise (ed.) / American Ballads and Songs, Scribner, Sof (1972/1922), p 24/# 10 [1919] (Lowlands Low)
Beckett, Laura. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p290/# 41K [1918/08/16]
Begley, Justis. Anglo American Ballads, Vol. 2, Rounder 1516, CD (1999), trk# 1 [1937/10] (Golden Willow Tree)
Bidder, Miss A.. Hamer, Fred (ed.) / Garners Gay. English Folk Songs Collected by ..., EFDS, Sof (1967), p78 [1940s?] (Golden Valiantry)
Block, Rory. Rhinestones & Steel Strings, Rounder 3085, LP (1983), trk# A.05
Bok, Gordon;, Ann Mayo Muir & Ed Trickett. Ways of Man, Folk Legacy FSI 068, LP (1978), trk# 1.01
Bolton, W.. Williams, R. Vaughan; & A. L. Lloyd (eds.) / Penguin Book of English Fol, Penguin, Sof (1959), p 46 [1906]
Brothers Four. Rally 'Round!, Columbia CL 1479, LP (1960), trk# A.04 (Gallant Argosy)
Buckner, Sarah. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p283/# 41B [1916/09/18]
Cameron, Bill. Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 5. The Child Ballads, Vol. II, Caedmon TC 1146, LP (1961), trk# B.11 [1950s]
Carter Family. Original Carter Family in Texas - Vol 2, Old Homestead OHCS 112, LP (1978/1939), trk# B.02 (Sinking in the Lonesome Sea)
Carter Family. Carter Family Album, Liberty LRP 3230, LP (1962), trk# B.03 (Sinking in the Lonesome Sea)
Carter Family. Lomax, Alan / Folk Songs of North America, Doubleday Dolphin, Sof (1975/1960), p191/# 95
Carter Family. Country & Western Classics, Time-Life Records TLCW 06, LP( (1982), trk# 1.03 [1935/05/06] (Sinking in the Lonesome Sea)
Carter, June. Wildwood Flower, Dualtone 80302, CD (2003), trk# 8 (Sinking in the Lonesome Sea)
Clapp, June. Buttermilk Hill, Butterfly CP 1992, Cas (1992), trk# B.02
Clayton, Paul. Whaling and Sailing Songs from the Days of Moby Dick, Tradition TLP 1005, LP (196?), trk# B.07 [1956/06] (Turkey Reveille/Revery/Revelry)
Dane, Barbara. Anthology of American Folk Songs, Tradition TR 2072, LP (196?), trk# A.04 (Turkey Reveille/Revery/Revelry)
Doughty, Johnny. Hidden English. A Celebration of English Traditional Music, Topic TSCD 600, CD (200?), trk# 15 [1976]
Drake, Rod. Owens, William A. (ed.) / Texas Folk Songs. 2nd edition, SMU Press, Bk (1976/1950), p 39 [1952] (Merry Golden Tree)
Duvall, Walter May (Dick). Moore, Ethel & Chauncey (ed.) / Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest, Univ. of Okla, Bk (1964), p134/# 56 [1930s] (There Was a Little Ship)
Dyer-Bennet, Richard. Richard Dyer-Bennet 2, Dyer-Bennet 2000, LP (1956), trk# B.07 (Turkey Reveille/Revery/Revelry)
Dyer-Bennet, Richard. Richard Dyer-Bennet No. 5. Requests, Dyer-Bennet 5000, LP (1958), trk# A.02
Dyer-Bennet, Richard. Folk Songs, Remington RLP-199-34, LP (1951), trk# B.01
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman, et.al. / Folk Songs of the Catskills, SUNY Press, sof (1982), p248/# 67 [1940s] (Bold Trellitee)
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman / Abelard Folk Song Book, Abelard-Schuman, Bk (1958), p 46 (Bold Trellitee)
Gentry, Jane Hicks. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p282/# 41A [1916/09/12]
Gentry, Jane Hicks. Smith, Betty N. / Jane Hicks Gentry. A Singer Among Singers, U. Ky, Sof (1998), p162/#21 [1916/09/12]
Glazer, Tom. Namu, the Killer Whale, and Other Ballads of Adventure, United Artists UAS 6540, LP (1966), trk# A.05
Hartlan, Richard. Creighton, Helen / Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, Dover, sof (1996/1933), p 20/# 10 [1927-32] (Golden Vallady)
Hellman, Neal. Hellman, Neal; and Sally Holden / Life Is Like a Mountain Dulcimer, TRO, sof (1974), p40
Hindman School Children. Cox, John Harrington(ed.) / Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virgini, WPA, Bk (1939), 15B [1923ca] (Mary Golden Tree)
House, Hester. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p284/# 41C [1916/09/15]
Ingenthron, Charles. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p200/# 38D [1941/09/06] (Lonesome Low)
Ingersoll, Genevieve. Scarborough, Dorothy(ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p187,406 [1930ca] (Golden Willow Tree)
Ives, Burl. Ballads, United Artists UAL 3060, LP (1959), trk# A.06 (Turkey Reveille/Revery/Revelry)
Ives, Burl. Ives, Burl / Burl Ives Song Book, Ballantine Books, Bk (1953), p 44
Ives, Burl. Down to the Sea in Ships, Decca DL 8245, LP (1956), trk# B.08
Jepson, James. Hubbard, Lester A. / Ballads and Songs from Utah, Univ. of Utah, Bk (1961), p 43/# 18A [1947/08/11] (Golden Furnity)
Johnson, Lucy Palmer. Linscott, Eloise Hubbard (ed.) / Folk Songs of Old New England, Dover, Bk (1993/1939), p136 [1920-30s] (Gallant Victory)
Jones, David. Easy and Slow, Minstrel JD 201, LP (1975), trk# 1
Kelley, Lewis. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p195/# 38A [1931/08/31]
Kimble Family. Carroll County Pioneers, Marimac 9036, Cas (1992), trk# 14 [1973-77] (Golden Chain Tree)
Kobluk, Mike. Okun, Milt (ed.) / Something to Sing About, MacMillan, Bk (1968), p127
Lane, Rose Wilder. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p197/# 38B [1930/05/16] (Merry Golden Tree)
Langstaff, John. Nottamun Town, Revels 2003, CD (2003/1964), trk# 9
Lea, Terrea. Folk Songs & Ballads, HiFiRecord R-404, LP (195?), trk# B.02 (Turkey Reveille/Revery/Revelry)
Lloyd, A. L. (Bert). English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) Vol. 5, Washington WLP 719, LP (1963/1956), trk# A.04
Lorette, Paul. Flanders, Helen H. & George Brown / Vermont Folk Songs and Ballads, Folklore Associates, Bk (1968/1931), p230 [1930/09/23]
Lucas, Parker. Cox, John Harrington (ed.) / Folk-Songs of the South, Dover, Sof (1967/1925), p170/# 32B [1916/08/31] (Green Willow Tree)
Lunsford, Bascom Lamar. Appalachian Minstrel, Washington VM 736, LP (1956), trk# A.03 (Merry Golden Tree)
MacColl, Ewan; and Peggy Seeger. Matching Songs of the British Isles and America, Riverside RLP 12-637, LP (195?), trk# 1 (Sweet Kumadee)
MacColl, Ewan; and Peggy Seeger. Matching Songs of the British Isles and America, Riverside RLP 12-637, LP (195?), trk# 2
MacColl, Ewan; and Peggy Seeger. Everybody Sing, Vol 3., Riverside RLP 1420, LP (196?), trk# B.04b
Maples, Jas. A.. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p289/# 41H [1917/04/17]
Martin, George; and Ray Watts. Cox, John Harrington(ed.) / Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virgini, WPA, Bk (1939), 15C [1927ca] (Green Willow Tree)
McCloud, Paralee. Rosenbaum, Art (ed.) / Folk Visions & Voices. Traditional Music & So...., Univ. of Georgia, Bk (1983), p 10 [1981/07/12] (Little Ship)
McNeil, Brownie. Folksongs, Sonic, LP (195?), trk# 2 (Turkey Reveille/Revery/Revelry)
Mitchell Trio. Chad Mitchell Trio at the Bitter End, Kapp KL 1281, LP (1962), trk# B.02
Modesty Forbids. Golden Vanity, Possum Corner PCR 100, Cas (1992/1990), trk# 14
Molsky, Bruce; and Big Hoedown. Bruce Molsky and Big Hoedown, Rounder 0421, CD (1997), trk# 14b (Golden Chain Tree)
Molsky, Bruce. Soon Be Time, Compass 7 4432 2, CD (2006), trk# 7 (Golden Willow Tree)
New Lost City Ramblers. New Lost City Ramblers, Disc D 102, LP (196?), trk# 10 (Lonesome Sea)
Patrick, Polly; and Nancy Smith. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p288/# 41F [1917/08/24]
Phipps Family. Phipps Family, Folkways FA 2375, LP (1965), trk# 9 (Golden Merry Tree)
Pine Mountain Settlement School Children. Wells, Evelyn Kendrick (ed.) / The Ballad Tree, Ronald, Bk (1950), p 53 [1916] (Merry Golden Tree)
Red Clay Ramblers. Stolen Love, Flying Fish FF 009, LP (1975), trk# 4
Reed, Susan. O Love Is Teasin', Elektra 60402-1-U, LP (1957), trk# 1.06
Reed, Susan. Susan Reed Sings Old Airs, Elektra EKL 126, LP (1961/1954), trk# A.04
Rice, Ben. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p199/# 38C [1934/04/17] (Lonesome Low)
Riddle, Almeda. Folk Songs from the Ozarks, Prestige International INT 25006, LP (196?), trk# 1 [1959/10] (Merry Golden Tree)
Riddle, Almeda. Southern Journey. Vol. 7: Ozark Frontier, Rounder 1707, CD (1997), trk# 5 [1959/10] (Merry Golden Tree)
Riddle, Almeda. Abrahams, Roger D.(ed.) / A Singer and Her Songs. Almeda Riddle's Book o, Louisiana State U. Press, Bk (1970), p143 [1964-67] (Golden Willow Tree)
Riddle, Almeda. Abrahams, Roger; & George Foss / Anglo-American Folksong Style, Prentice-Hall, Sof (1968), 5-1 [1965] (Golden Willow Tree)
Ritchie, Jean. British Traditional Ballads in the Southern Mountains (Vol. 1), Folkways FA 2301, LP (1961), trk# 7 (Merry Golden Tree)
Ritchie, May. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p289/# 41J [1907/08/30]
Rite of Spring. Crystal Creek, Wallowa WLS 011, LP/ (1982), trk# A.07
Rogoff, Jill. Across the Narrow Seas, Alcazar ALC 129, CD (1996), trk# 1
Russell, Linda. Good Old Colony Days, Prairie Smoke PS 001, LP (1984), trk# A.01
Scheffer, Mr.. Morris, Alton C. / Folksongs of Florida, Univ. Florida, Bk (1950), p326/#174A [1934-39] (Sweet Trinity)
Scott and Stanley. Hard Times in the Country, Talkeetna TR 100, CD/ (1974), trk# A.07
Seeger, Pete. American Ballads, Folkways FA 2319, LP (1957), trk# 7
Seeger, Pete. Sing Out Reprints, Sing Out, Sof, 6, p14 (1964)
Seeger, Pete. Sing Out Reprints, Sing Out, Sof, 7, p23 (1965)
Seeger, Pete. Leisy, James F. (ed.) / Folk Song Abecedary, Bonanza, Bk (1966), p130
Seeger, Pete. American Favorite Ballads, Smithsonian/Folkways SFW-CD 40155, CD( (2009), trk# 3.14 [1957]
Seeley, Frank (Capt.). Colcord, Joanna (ed.) / Songs of American Sailormen, Norton, Bk (1938/1924), p154 [1920ca]
Shadoin, Luther. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p285/# 41D [1917/09/03]
Stanley, Peter; and Rodney Bryan. McKinley Called, Talkeetna 25007, CD (1999/1986), trk# 16 [1980s?]
Stecher, Jody. Going Up on the Mountain, Bay 210, LP (1977), trk# A.03
Stoton, Miss N. F.. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p287/# 41E [1917/05/29]
Stubblefield, Blaine. Lomax, John A. & Alan Lomax / Our Singing Country, Dover, Sof (2000/1941), p210 [1938]
Surber, Elsie. Morris, Alton C. / Folksongs of Florida, Univ. Florida, Bk (1950), p327/#174B [1934-39] (Lowlands Low)
Sutherland, Catherine E.. Cox, John Harrington(ed.) / Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virgini, WPA, Bk (1939), 15A [1926] Taussig, Harry. Taussig, Harry / Folk Style Autoharp, Oak, Sof (1967), p 54
Thomas, Irene Farrar. Wolfe, Charles K.(ed.) / Folk Songs of Middle Tennessee. George Boswell, Univ. Tennesse, Sof (1997), p 37/# 20 [1950/12/10] (There Was a Ship a Sailing
Trail, Olga. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p200/# 38E [1942/02/12] (Merry Golden Tree)
Trivett, Joseph Able (Abe). Joseph Able Trivett, Folk Legacy FSA 002, LP (1962), trk# 4 [1961/09] (Golden Willow Tree)
Vass, Ruby. Shellans, Herbert (ed.) / Folk Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Oak, Sof (1968), p62 [1958/07/28] (Lonesome Sea Ballad)
Wainwright, Loudon. Rogues Gallery, Anti 86817-2, CD (2006), trk# 1.05 (Turkey Reveille/Revery/Revelry)
Wilson, Mrs.. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p288/# 41G [1917/05/04]
Wooten, William (Cullen). Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p289/# 41I [1917/09/21]
Louisiana Lowlands, Low
Rt - Golden Vanity
Haddow, Robert. Creighton, Helen / Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, Dover, sof (1996/1933), p278/#129 [1883ca]
Little Cabin Boy
Uf - Golden Vanity
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman (ed.) / Merry Ditties, Bonanza Books, Bk (1958), p106
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman, et.al. / Folk Songs of the Catskills, SUNY Press, sof (1982), p214/# 56 [1940s]
Sailing in the Lowlands Low - McCall, Joseph/Traditional
Healy, James N. / Irish Ballads and Songs of the Sea, Mercier, Sof (1967), p 73/#41
Mainly Norfolk: The Golden Vanity / The Old Virginia Lowlands
[Roud 122; Child 286; Ballad Index C286; trad.]
From W. Bolton, Southport, Lancashire; noted in 1906 by Ann Gilchrist. In some versions of this widespread and well-known ballad with many versions, the enemy is Turkish, Spanish or French. Fundamentally, it is a story of betrayal and rarely does it have a happy ending. Sometimes the boy drowns and his ghost returns to sink his own ship. Mr Bolton explained that the “black bear skin” was the cabin boy's covering at night; he wished to wear it as a disguise in the water. Version have been reported from Wiltshire and Cornwall, some cite the hero as being Sir Walter Raleigh.
The ballad was also collected by F.J. Child and sung by A.L. Lloyd in 1956 on Volume III of his and Ewan MacColl's anthology of Child ballads, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads. Lloyd also later included it in his Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.
Johnny Doughty sang The Golden Vanity on the Topic anthology Hidden English: A Celebration of English Traditional Music.
In 1970, Tony Rose recorded The Golden Vanitee for his first album, Young Hunting. He sang a slightly shorter version live at Eagle Tavern, New York, in 1981, leaving out the last but one verse. This recording was included in 2008 on his posthumous CD Exe. Tony Rose commented in the original album's sleeve notes:
This version of the Golden Vanitee, as taken from Stan Hugill's Shanties from the Seven Seas, is a particularly detailed one, with perhaps an unexpected element of humour here and there.
Jez Lowe (vocals, guitar) and Linda Adams (concertina) recorded The Golden Vanity in 1993 or 1994 for the Fellside CD A Selection from The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.
And Steeleye Span recorded it in 1995 during the Time recording sessions. However, it did not appear on this album but was later released on the two Park Records samplers The Best of Britsh Folk Rock and A Stroll Through the Park.
Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick sang this song as The Old Virginia Lowlands on Brass Monkey's third album Sound and Rumour. Martin Carthy commented in the record's sleeve notes:
The Old Virginia Lowlands is from one of Stan Hugill's books. It's a version of The Golden Vanity from Stan's family, and must be one of the few versions which is not just a historical curiosity, but a real live, feet-on-the-ground story of real betrayal of real people.
Lyrics
Jez Lowe sings The Golden Vanity
It's I've got a ship in the north country,
Down in the Lowlands low,
And I fear she may be took by the Spanish enemy,
As she sails in the Lowland sea,
As she sails in the Lowland low.
And up then stepped a little cabin boy,
Down in the Lowlands low,
Saying: “What will you give me if I do them destroy
And sink them in the Lowland sea
And sink them in the Lowlands low?”
“Oh, I'll give you silver and likewise gold,
Down in the Lowlands low,
And my only daughter for to be your bride,
If you'll sink them in the Lowland sea,
If you'll sink them in the Lowlands low.”
“Oh wrap me up in my black bear skin,
Down in the Lowlands low,
And heave me overboard for to sink or to swim,
And I'll sink them in the Lowland sea
I'll sink them in the Lowlands low.”
Now some were playing cards and others playing dice,
Down in the Lowlands low,
And the boy he had an auger, bored two holes at once,
And he sunk them in the Lowland sea,
And he sunk them in the Lowlands low.”
He leaned upon his breast and he swam back again,
Down in the Lowlands low,
Saying “Master, take me up, for I'm sure I will be slain,
And I've sunk them in the Lowland sea,
And I've sunk them in the Lowlands low.”
“Oh, I'll not take you up,” the master he cried,
Down in the Lowlands low,
“But I'll shoot you and I'll kill you and send you with the tide,
And I'll drown you in the Lowland sea,
And I'll drown you in the Lowlands low.”
He leaned upon his breast and swam round the larboard side,
Down in the Lowlands low,
“Oh messmates, take me up for I fear I will been slain,
And I've sunk her in the Lowland sea,
And I've sunk her in the Lowlands low.”
His messmates took him up, and on the deck he died,
Down in the Lowlands low,
And they wrapped him up in an old cow's hide,
And they sunk him in the Lowland sea,
And sunk him in the Lowlands low.
Steeleye Span sing The Golden Vanity
I know a ship in the north country
Down in the Lowlands low,
And I fear she may be took by the Spanish enemy,
Down in the Lowland sea
Up on the deck stepped a little cabin boy,
Down in the Lowlands low,
Saying: “What will you give me if I do them destroy
And sink them in the Lowland sea?”
“Oh, I'll give you silver and I will give you gold,
Down in the Lowlands low,
And my only daughter for to be your bride,
If you sink them in the Lowland sea,
Sink them in the Lowlands low.”
Chorus
Lowlands low,
Lowland sea
“Oh wrap me up in my black bear skin,
Down in the Lowlands low,
And throw me overboard for to sink or to swim,
Down in the Lowland sea.”
Now some were playing cards and others playing dice,
Down in the Lowlands low,
And the boy he had an auger and he bored two holes at once,
And he sunk them in the Lowland sea.
He leaned upon his breast and he swam back again,
Down in the Lowlands low,
Saying “Master, take me up, for I fear I will be slain,
And I sunk them in the Lowlands low,
I sunk them in the Lowland sea.”
Chorus
“Oh, I'll not take you up,” the master he cried,
Down in the Lowlands low,
“But I'll shoot you and I'll kill you and I'll send you with the tide,
And I'll drown you in the Lowland sea”
He leaned upon his breast and he swam to the larboard side,
Down in the Lowlands low,
Saying: “Messmates, take me up for I fear I have been slain,
And I sunk them in the Lowland sea”
They took him up, and on the deck he died,
Down in the Lowlands low,
And they wrapped him up in an old cow's hide,
And they sunk him in the Lowland sea,
They sunk him in the Lowlands low.
Chorus
Tony Rose sings The Golden Vanitee
And there once was a captain who was boasting on the quay:
“Oh I have a ship and a gallant ship is she.
Of all the ships I know she is the best for me
And she's sailing in the lowlands low.”
Chorus (after each verse; repeating its last line):
In the lowlands, lowlands,
She's sailing in the lowlands low
“Well I had her built in the North Country
And I had her christened the Golden Vanitee.
I armed her and I manned her and I sent her off to sea
And she's sailing in the lowlands low.”
Oh well then up stepped a sailor who has just returned from sea:
“Oh I was aboard of the Golden Vanitee
When we was held in chase by a Spanish piratee
And we sank 'em in the lowlands low.”
Oh well, we had aboard us a little cabin boy
Who said, “What will you give me if the galley I destroy?”
“I'll give to you my daughter, she is my pride and joy,
If you sink them in the lowlands low.”
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide.
He swam until he came to the rascal pirate's side;
He climbed on board, he went below, by none was he espied,
And he sank 'em in the lowlands low.”
Oh well he bore her with his auger, he bore her once or twice,
And some was playing cards and some was playing dice.
But when he let the water in, it dazzled at their eyes
And he sank 'em in the lowlands low.”
Oh yes, some was playing cards and some was playing dice,
And some was in their hammocks a-sportin' with their wives.
But when he let the water in, it pulled out all their lives,
And he sank them in the lowlands low.
So then the cabin boy he swam unto the larboard side
Saying, “Captain, take me up for I am drowning in the tide.”
“I'll shoot you and I'll kill you if you claim my child as bride,
And I'll sink you in the lowlands low.”
So then the cabin boy he swam unto the starboard side
Saying, “Messmates, take me up for I am drifting with the tide.”
They took him up so quickly but when on deck, he died,
And they buried him in the lowlands low.
Oh yes, they took him up so quickly but when on deck, he died,
And they sewed him in his hammock that was so strong and wide.
They said a short prayer over him and dropped him in the tide
And they sailed from the lowlands low.
Well here's a curse onto the Captain wherever he may be
For taking that poor cabin boy so far away to sea;
For taking that poor cabin boy so far away to sea
And to leave him in the lowlands low.
Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick sing The Old Virginia Lowlands
Once there was a skipper, he was boasting on the quay,
Saying: “I have a ship, and a gallant ship is she,
Oh I have a ship, and a gallant ship is she.
Of all the ships that I do know she's far the best to me.”
In the old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
“Oh I had her built in the north country
And I had her christened the Golden Vanity,
Oh I had her christened the Golden Vanity,
I armed her and I manned her and I sent her off to sea.”
In the old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
Then up spoke a sailor who had just returned from sea:
Oh I served on board of the Golden Vanity,
Oh I served on board of the Golden Vanity,
When she was held in chase by a Spanish piratee.”
In the old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
“And we had on board of us a little cabin boy,
Who said: “ What will you give me if the galleon I destroy
Oh what will you give me if the galleon I destroy?”
“Oh you will get my daughter, she is my pride and joy.”
If you sink them in the Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide,
And he swam and he swam to the rascal pirate's side,
He swam and he swam to the rascal pirate's side,
And he climbed on deck and he went below and none did him espy.
And he sank them in the Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
He bore with his auger, he bore once and twice,
And some were playing cards and some were playing dice,
The water it flowed in and it dazzled their eyes,
The water it flowed in and it pulled out all their lives.
And he sank them in the Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
Well he swam and he swam all to the starboard side,
Saying: “Captain take me up, I am drifting with the tide,
Oh Captain take me up,” but so loud the Captain cried:
“I will shoot you, I will kill you, you shall not have your bride.”
I will sink you in the Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
The shipmates took him up and on the deck he died,
They sewed him in his hammock which was so strong and wide,
They sewed him in his hammock it was so strong and wide,
They prayed for him, they sang for him, they sunk him in the tide.
In the old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
My curse be on you, Captain, wherever you may be,
My curse be on the captain of the Golden Vanity,
In waking and in sleeping, until your dying day,
For you gave your oath to him and you did him betray.
In the old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia Lowlands low
Acknowledgements
The words of Jez Lowe's and Steeleye Span's versions are from The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, eds Ralph Vaughan Williams & A.L. Lloyd, Penguin, 1959. The variations in the actual singing were transcribed by Reinhard Zierke with thanks for help to Garry Gillard.
------------------
Ten Recordings (Texts) of the Golden Vanity (F.J. Child #286):
1. The Golden Vanity
Jez Lowe, A Selection from The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, Fellside FECD47, registrazioni 1985, 1993 & 1994.
It's I've got a ship in the north country,
Down in the Lowlands low
An' I fear she may be took by the Spanish enemy,
As she sails on the Lowland sea,
As she sails in the Lowlands low.
And up then stepped a little cabin boy,
Down in the Lowlands low
Saying, What will you give me if I do them destroy,
And sink them in the Lowland sea,
And sink them in the Lowlands low?
Oh, I'll give you silver and likewise gold,
Down in the Lowlands low
And my only daughter for to be your bride,
If you'll sink them in the Lowland sea,
If you'll sink them in the Lowlands low.
Oh wrap me up in me black bear skin,
Down in the Lowlands low
And heave me overboard for to sink or to swim,
An' I'll sink them in the Lowland sea,
I'll sink them in the Lowlands low.
Now some was playing cards and the others playing dice,
Down in the Lowlands low
And the boy had an auger, bored two holes at once,
And he sunk them in the Lowland sea,
And he sunk them in the Lowlands low.
He leaned upon his breast and he swum back again,
Down in the Lowlands low
Saying, Master, take me up, for I'm sure I will be slain,
An' I've sunk her in the Lowland sea,
An' I've sunk her in the Lowlands low.
Oh, I'll not take you up,' the master he cried,
Down in the Lowlands low
'But I'll shoot you and I'll kill you and send you with the tide,
An' I'll drown you in the Lowland sea,
An' I'll drown you in the Lowlands low.
He leaned upon his breast and swum round the larboard side,
Down in the Lowlands low
O messmates, take me up for I fear I will be slain,
An' I've sunk her in the Lowland sea,
An' I've sunk her in the Lowlands low.
His messmates took him up, and on the deck he died,
Down in the Lowlands low
And they wrapped him up in an old cow's hide,
And they sunk him in the Lowland sea,
And sunk him in the Lowlands low.
2. The Golden Victory
Dodie Chalmers, on Classic Ballads of Britain and Ireland, Storytelling Ballads as included in Francis James Child's English & Scottish Popular Ballads, Volume 2, Rounder 11661-1776-2 (ballad recorded 1952)
There was a gallant ship
On yon western counterie
And the name of that ship
Was The Golden Victory
As she sailed upon the lowlands low
Out spoke the master
It's out spoke he:
Is there anyone on board
That will sink that ship for me
And plunge her in the lowlands low?
Out spoke the cabin boy
Out spoke he:
O master, dear master
What will you give to me
If I sink her in the lowlands low?
It's I will give thee silver
And I will give thee gold
Likewise my oldest daughter
So beautiful and bold
If you sink her in the lowlands low
The boy bent his back
And away he did swim
With a dagger in his hand
For to let the waters in
And sink her in the lowlands low
Some were playing dominoes
And some were playing cards
And the water rushing in
Gave them all a great surprise
For she's sinking in the lowlands low
Back swam the cabin boy
Back swum he -
O master, dear master
O please now take me in
She's sinking in the lowlands low
The master took him in
And packed him off to bed,
In less than half an hour
This poor cabin boy lay dead
And he sank her in the lowlands low
3. The Golden Vanity
Bill Cameron, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, on The Child Ballads No.2, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Numbers 110-299, The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 5, Topic 12T 161
I had a little ship on the North Counteree
She went by the name of the Golden Vanity
But I was afraid she'd be taken by the Turkish enemy
As we sank her in the lowlands, the lowlands
And we sank her in the lowlands low
Then up comes a little cabin boy:
What would you give me the ships to destroy?
First I'd give you silver and then I'd give you gold
And you shall have me daughter when I get to the shore
So we sank her in the lowlands, the lowlands
We sank her in the lowlands low
4. The Golden Vanity
Johnny Doughty, on Hidden English, Topic TSCD600, ballad recorded in 1976
A fair ship is mine, called the Golden Vanity
And she sails just now by the North Country
But I fear that she'll be taken by a Spanish gallalee
As we sail by the lowlands low
By the lowlands low
As we sail by the lowlands low
What will you give to me – asked the little cabin boy
If I venture to that Spanish ship, the ship that doth annoy?
I will wreck the gallalee, you may peace of mind enjoy
As we sail by the lowlands low
By the lowlands low
As we sail by the lowlands low
The captain said – Now with you my lad I'll share
All my treasure and my wealth, you shall have my daughter fair
If this Spanish ship you nobly sink and ease me of my care
As we sail by the lowlands low
By the lowlands low
As we sail by the lowlands low
Then boldly the lad, did he leap into the sea
And an auger very sharp and thin he carried carefully
And he swam the mighty billows till he reached the gallalee
Where she sank by the lowlands low
By the lowlands low
Where she sank by the lowlands low
Then back to the ship the little hero hied
And he begged the crew to haul him up upon the larboard side
You can sink for me, you little dog - the ungrateful captain cried
As we sail by the lowlands low
Was there ever half a tale so sad as this tale of the sea
Where we sailed by the lowlands?
By the lowlands low
Where we sailed by the lowlands low?
5. The Golden Vanitee
Tony Rose, Young Hunting, Trailer LER 2013, 1970
There once was a captain who was boasting on the quay:
Oh I have a ship and a gallant ship is she
Of all the ships I know she is the best for me
And she's sailing in the lowlands low
In the lowlands, lowlands
She's sailing in the lowlands low
Oh, well, I have her built in the North Counterie
And I have her christened The Golden Vanitee
I armed her and I manned her and I sent her off to sea
And she's sailing in the lowlands low
In the lowlands, lowlands
She's sailing in the lowlands low
Oh well, then up stepped a sailor who had just returned from sea
Oh I was aboard of the Golden Vanitee
When she was held in chase by a Spanish piratee
And we sank 'em in the lowlands low
In the lowlands, lowlands
We sank 'em in the lowlands low
Oh well, we had aboard of us a little cabin boy
Who said - What will you give me if the gallee I destroy
I'll give to you me daughter, she is me pride and joy
If you sink them in the lowlands low
In the lowlands, lowlands
If you sink them in the lowlands low
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide
He swam until he came to the rascal pirate's side
He climbed on board, he went below, by none was he espied
And he sank them in the lowlands low
In the lowlands, lowlands
He sank them in the lowlands low
Oh well, he bore with his auger, he bore once and twice
And some was playing cards and some was playing dice
But when he let the water in, it dazzled at their eyes
And he sank them in the lowlands
In the lowlands, lowlands
He sank them in the lowlands low
Oh yes, some was playing cards and some was playing dice
And some was in their hammocks a-sporting with their wives
But when he let the water in, it pulled out all their lives
And he sank them in the lowlands
In the lowlands, lowlands
He sank them in the lowlands low
So then the cabin boy he swam unto the larboard side
Saying - Captain take me up for I am drowning in the tide
I'll shoot you and I'll kill you if you claim me child as bride
And I'll sink you in the lowlands low
In the lowlands, lowlands
I'll sink you in the lowlands low
So then the cabin boy he swam unto the starboard side
Saying – Messmates take me up for I am drifting with the tide
They took him up so quickly but when on deck he died
And they buried him in the lowlands low
In the lowlands, lowlands
They buried him in the lowlands low
Oh yes, they took him up so quickly but when on deck he died
And they sewed him in his hammock that was so strong and wide
They said a short prayer over him and dropped him in the tide
And they sailed from the lowlands low
From the lowlands, lowlands
They sailed from the lowlands low
Well here's a curse onto the Captain wherever he may be
For taking a poor cabin boy so far away to sea
For taking a poor cabin boy so far away to sea
And to leave him in the lowlands low
In the lowlands, lowlands
To leave him in the lowlands low
6. The Old Virginia Lowlands
Brass Monkey, Sound & Rumour, vocals by Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick, Topic TSCD501
Once there was a skipper he was boasting on the quay
Saying - I have a ship and a gallant ship is she
Oh I have a ship and a gallant ship is she
Of all the ships that I do know she's far the best to me
In the old Virginia lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
Oh I had her built in the north country
And I had her christened the Golden Vanity
Oh I had her christened the Golden Vanity
I armed her and I manned her and I sent her off to sea
In the old Virginia lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
Then up spoke a sailor who had just returned from sea
Oh I served on board of the Golden Vanity
Oh I served on board of the Golden Vanity
When she was held in chase by a Spanish piratee
In the old Virginia lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
And we had on board of us a little cabin boy
Who said - What will you give me if the galleon I destroy
Oh what will you give me if the galleon I destroy
Oh you will get my daughter she is my pride and joy
If you sink them in the lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide
And he swam and he swam to the rascal pirate's side
He swam and he swam to the rascal pirate's side
And he climbed on deck and he went below and none did him espy
And he sank them in the lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
He bore with his auger he bore once and twice
And some were playing cards and some were playing dice
The water it flowed in and it dazzled their eyes
The water it flowed in and it pulled out all their lives
And he sank them in the lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
Well he swam and he swam all to the starboard side
Saying - Captain take me up I am drifting with the tide
Oh Captain take me up - But so loud the Captain cried
I will sink you, I will kill you, you shall not have your bride
I will sink you in the lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
The shipmates took him up and on the deck he died
They sewed him in his hammock which was so strong and wide
They sewed him in his hammock it was so strong and wide
They prayed for him, they sang for him, they sunk him in the tide
In the old Virginia lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
My curse be on you Captain wherever you may be
My curse be on the Captain of the Golden Vanity
In waking and in sleeping until your dying day
For you gave your oath to him and you did him betray
In the old Virginia lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands
Lowlands low
In the old Virginia lowlands low
7. The Sweet Kumadee
Ewan MacColl, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads – vol.2, Folkways FG 3510, 1964
There was a ship sailed frae the north country
And the name of the ship was the Sweet Kumadee
She was built o' the pine and the bay oak tree
And she sailed on the Lowlands,Lowlands
And she sailed on the Lowlands low
We hadna been sailing a league but barely three
When the look-out man he sighted a French gaudie
And he said, We'll all be sent to the bottom o' the sea
As we sail on the Lowlands,Lowlands
As we sail on the Lowlands low
Then oot and spak our cabin-boy and oot spak he
Cryin', Captain, o captain,what will ye gie to me
If I swim alang the side o' the French gaudie
And sink her in the Lowlands,Lowlands
And sink her in the Lowlands low?
It's I will gi'e ye gowd and I will gi'e ye fee
And my eldest dochter your bride for to be
If ye'll swim along the side o' the French Gaudie
And sink her in the lowlands, lowlands
And sink her in the lowlands low
Ye'll row me into an auld bull's skin
Ye'll tak' me to the side and there ye'll throw me in
Wi' my instruments aboot me to the gaudie I will swim
And I'll sink her in the lowlands, lowlands
I'll sink her in the lowlands low!
The boy bent his back and awa' swam he
He swan till he cam' to the French Gaudie
Wi' his instruments aboot him, he started to mak' free
To sink her in the lowlands, lowlands
To sink her in the lowlands low
Some were at the cairds and some were at the dice
Four and twenty holes he has pierced in her side
Until the salt water it flashed before their eyes
And they sank in lowlands, lowlands
They sank in the lowlands low
O captain, O captain, be as guid as your word
You'll throw me a rope and ye'll pu' me on board
The gaudie she lies at the bottom of the road
She's lying in the lowlands, lowlands
She's lying in the lowlands low
I winna throw a rope or pu' ye on board
Ye can swim till ye sink, just as true as my word
Ye can swim till ye sink to the bottom of the road
Ye can sink in the lowlands, lowlands
Ye can sink in the lowlands low!
Ye'll throw me a rope and ye'll pu' me frae the sea
Or I'll swim to the side o' your Sweet Kumadee
And I'll send her to the bottom like the French Gaudie
That's lying on the lowlands, lowlands
That's lying on the lowlands low!
He's thrown to him a rope and they've pu'd him frae the sea
And he's gi'en to him the gowd and he's gi'en to him the fee
And his eldest dochter his bride for to be
As they sailed on the lowlands, lowlands;
As they sailed on the lowlands low
8. The Sweet Kumadie
Ian Manuel, The Dales of Caledonia, Topic 12TS301, 1976
There once was a ship sailed frae the north country
And the name of the ship was the Sweet Kumadie
She was built o' the pine and the bay oak tree
And she sailed on the Lowlands,Lowlands
And she sailed on the Lowlands low
Well, we hadna been sailing a league but barely three
When the look-out man he sighted a French gaudie
And he said - We'll all be sent tae the bottom o' the sea
As we sail on the Lowlands,Lowlands
As we sail on the Lowlands low
Well, it's oot and spak our cabin-boy, oot spak he
Cryin' - Captain, o captain,what will ye gie to me
If I swim alang the side o' your French gaudie
And I sink her in the Lowlands,Lowlands
And I sink her in the Lowlands low?
Oh, it's I'll gi'e ye gowd and I will gi'e ye fee
And my eldest dochter your bride for to be
Gin ye'll swim alang the side o' yon French Gaudie
And you sink her in the lowlands, lowlands
And you sink her in the lowlands low
The boy bent his back and awa' swam he
He swan till he cam' to the French Gaudie
And wi' his instruments aboot him, he started to mak' free
To sink her in the lowlands, lowlands
For to sink her in the lowlands low
Oh, some were at the cairds and some were at the dice
Four and twenty holes he has pierced in her side
Until the salt water, aye, it flashed before their eyes
And she sank in lowlands, lowlands
And she sank in the lowlands low
O captain, O captain, be as guid as your word
You'll throw me a rope and ye'll pu' me on board
For your gaudie, oh she lies at the bottom of the road
She lies in the lowlands, lowlands
Oh, she lies in the lowlands low
I'm not throwin' ye a rope or pu' ye on board
Ye can swim till ye sink, just as true as my word
Ye can swim till ye sink tae the bottom of the road
Ye can sink in the lowlands, lowlands
Ye can sink in the lowlands low!
Ye'll throw me a rope and ye'll pu' me frae the sea
Or I'll swim alang the side o' your Sweet Kumadie
And I'll send her to the bottom like your French Gaudie
And you'll sink on the lowlands, lowlands
And you'll sink on the lowlands low!
Oh, he's thrown him a rope and they've pu'd him frae the sea
He's gi'en to him the gowd and he's gi'en to him the fee
And his eldest dochter his bride for to be
As they sailed on the lowlands, lowlands;
As they sailed on the lowlands low
9. The Golden Vanity
Duncan Williamson, on Travellers' Tales, Volume 2, Songs, stories and ballads from Scottish Travellers, Gabrielle Ijdo, Stanley Robertson & Duncan Williamson, Kyloe 101, 2002
O I have a ship that sails on the sea
And she goes by the name of the Golden Vanity
But I'll doubt she'll by sunk by a Spanish Galee
As I sail round the lowlands low, low
As I sail round the lowlands low
Then up and spoke a cabin boy
A well-spoke lad was he
Saying – Captain, O captain, O what would you gi'e
If the Spanish Gallee would trouble you no more
As you sail round the lowlands low, low
As you sail round the lowlands low?
O guid gold I would give and silver in store
And my pretty little daughter who waits on the shore
If the Spanish Gallee would trouble me no more
As I sail round the lowlands low, low
As I sail round the lowlands low
O straight away the cabin boy bared his breast and dived in
He held in his hand an auger sharp and thin
He held in his hand an auger sharp and thin
He went swimming in the lowlands low, low
He went swimming in the lowlands low
Then he bored and he bored, he bored once or twice
For some was playing cards and some was playing dice
And the water it rushed in and dazzled till their eyes
And he sank 'em in the lowlands low, low
And he sank them in the lowlands low
Then he swam and he swam, crying – Captain, take me in
I am drowning in the lowlands low
O throw me a rope, a rope - cried he
A rope, O, a rope, you will never get from me
For you sunk the Dargle, the Turk of Admiree
Now she's lying in the lowlands low, low
Now she's lying in the lowlands low
So he swam around the starboard side, saying – Messmates, take me in
They throwed him a rope and his messmates took him in
And they wrapped him up in an old cow skin
And they sank him in the lowlands low, low
They sank him in the lowlands low
10. The Golden Vanity
Martyn Wyndham-Read, on Song Links, A celebration of English Traditional Songs and their Australian variants, Fellside FECD 176D
Now there once sailed a ship from the North Amerikee
The name that she went sailing by was the Golden Vanity
And she was a fine ship as she strolled along the deep
As she sailed along the lowlands, the lowlands
She sailed along the lowlands low
Now the first ship in sight was the Turkish Revelry
The captain he was frightened that they'd sink her in the sea
The captain he was frightened that they'd sink her in the sea
And that they'd send her to the lowlands, the lowlands
They'd send her to the bottom of the sea
Now the first that jumped up was the little sailor boy
Saying - Captain what will you give me if her I do destroy
I'll give you gold in store and my daughter when on shore
If you send her to the lowlands, the lowlands
You send her to the bottom of the sea
Well, he grabbed up the auger and overboard jumped he
He swam right and left for the Turkish Revelry
He bored nine holes in the bottom of the ship
And he sent her to the lowlands, the lowlands
And he sent her to the bottom of the sea
Now he swam back again to the Golden Vanity
Saying - Captain pick me up for I'm sinking in the sea
Captain pick me up for I'm drowning in the sea
And I'm going to the lowlands, the lowlands
I'm going to the bottom of the sea
Oh no, said the captain, that will never do
I'll shoot you or I'll stab you or I'll sink you in the sea
I'll shoot you or I'll stab you or I'll drown you in the sea
And I'll send you to the lowlands, the lowlands
I'll send you to the bottom of the sea
He said - Shipmates pick me up for I'm drowning in the sea
Shipmates pick me up for I'm drowning in the sea
Shipmates pick me up for I'm sinking in the sea
And I'm going to the lowlands, the lowlands
I'm going to the bottom of the sea
Well the shipmates picked him up, it was on he deck he died
They rolled him in his old grey shirt and sank him in the tide
They rolled him in his old grey shirt and sank him in the tide
And they sent him to the lowlands, the lowlands
They sent him to bottom of the sea
Now a curse on the captain wherever he may roam
For taking that poor sailor boy so far away from home
For taking that poor sailor boy so far away from home
And for sending him to the lowlands, the lowlands
For sending him to the bottom of the sea
-----------
The Golden Vanity
Steeleye Span, recorded it in 1995 during the Time recording sessions, but released on the Park Records samplers The Best of Britsh Folk Rock and A Stroll Through the Park
Oh, I have a ship in the north country
Down in the Lowlands low
And I fear she may be took by the Spanish enemy
Down in the lowland sea
Up on the deck stepped a little cabin boy
Down in the lowlands low
Saying, What will you give me if I do them destroy
And I sink them in the lowland sea?
Oh, I'll give you silver an' I will give you gold
Down in the lowlands low
And my only daughter for to be your bride
if you sink them in the lowland sea
Sink them in the lowlands low
Lowlands low
Lowland sea
Oh wrap me up in my black bear skin
Down in the lowlands low
And throw me overboard for to sink or to swim
An' I'll sink them in the lowland sea
Now some were playing cards and others playing dice
Down in the lowlands low
And the boy he had an auger and he bored two holes at once
And he sunk them in the lowland sea
He leaned upon his breast and he swam back again
Down in the lowlands low
Saying, Master, take me up, for I'm sure I will be slain
And I sunk them in the lowland sea
I sunk them in the lowlands low
Lowlands low
Lowland sea
Lowlands low
Lowland sea
Oh, I'll not take you up, the master he cried
Down in the lowlands low
But I'll shoot you and I'll kill you and I'll send you with the tide
And I'll drown you in the lowland sea
He leaned upon his breast and he swam to the larboard side
Down in the lowlands low
Saying - Messmates, take me up for I fear I have been slain
And I sunk them in the lowland sea
They took him up and on the deck he died
Down in the lowlands low
And they wrapped him up in an old cow's hide
And they sunk him in the lowland sea,
They sunk him in the lowlands low
Lowlands low
Lowland sea…