The Golden Vanity- Maher (NL) 1950 Leach REC
[From “Leach Newfoundland Collection,” a reel to reel, sound recording of Charles Daw, James Maher, Mary Powers and Mr. Patty Maher of Newfoundland (Flat Rock). Summer 1950. T-82-00006-31, 31. Recording includes: Song 251. The Golden Vanity
R. Matteson 2014]
The Golden Vanity - Sung by James Maher [b.1885] of Flatrock, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada.
I have a ship called the Golden Vanity,
And I'm afraid she will be captured by a Turkish galley;
As she sails along the lowlands, lowlands low,
As she sails along the lonesome sea.
Then up speaks the cabin boy of our gallant ship,
"What will you give me, captain, if I sink that Turkish ship?
If I'd sink her in the lowlands, lowlands,
Oh, sink her in the lonesome sea."
"I'll give you silver, give you gold in store,
And I'll give you my daughter, Jane, when we gets on shore;
If you'd sink her in the lowlands, lowlands,
Oh, sink her in the lonesome sea."
The laddie took his augur and 'twas overboard went he,
He swam to the side of the Turkish galley;
And he sank her in the lowlands, lowlands,
He sank her in the lonesome sea.
Some were playing cards, and some more were playing dice,
The water it come up, oh, it dazzled all their eyes; [1]
As they sailed along the lowlands, lowlands,
They sailed along the lonesome sea.
He then swam back to our ship's side,
"Captain, captain, help me. I am sinking with the tide;
I am sinking in the lowlands, lowlands low,
Oh, I'm sinking in the lonesome sea."
"Oh, no," now said our captain, "such things could never be,
I'll whip you, I will hang you, I will drown you in the sea;
I would sink you in the lowlands, lowlands,
Oh, I'd sink you in the lonesome sea."
He then swam 'round to the starboard side, saying:
"Shipmates will you help me? Oh, I'm sinking with the tide;
I am sinking in the lowlands, lowlands,
Oh, I'm sinking in the lonesome sea."
His shipmates took him in, and 'twas on the deck he died,
They put him in his hammock, oh, it was both long and wide;
And they took him out again and lowered him o'er the side,
As we sailed along the lowlands, lowlands,
Oh, we sailed along the lonesome sea.
1. One of the few US or Canadian version's where the text accurately captures the early English broadsides.