The Golden Willow Tree- Ayers (WV) 1970 Gainer
[From: Folk Songs from the West Virginia Hills by Patrick Gainer, 1970. Gainer's notes below.
THE GOLDEN WILLOW TREE
(CHILD 286, "THE SWEET TRINITY"'
OR "THE GOLDEN VANITY")
This ballad is well-known in our tradition. It is sometimes called "Sailing In the Lowland's Low." It is a tragic story in which the captain of the ship fails to keep his word to the cabin boy who is left to drown in the sea. Sung by Charles Ayers, Gilmer County.
1. There was a noble ship and it sailed upon the sea,
And it went by the name of the Golden Willow Tree,
As it sailed in the Lowlands low, low, low,
As it sailed in the Lowlands low.
2 There was another ship and it sailed upon the sea'
And it went by the name of the Turkish Revelee,
As it sailed in the Lowlands low, low, low,
As it sailed in the Lowlands low.
3 Then up spoke the Captain and said, "What will it be?
Oh, how can we sink that Turkish Revelee?
As she sails in the Lowlands low,low,low,
As she sails in the Lowlands low"'
4 Then up spoke the cabin boy, and up spoke he'
Saying, "What wilt I receive if I sink her in the sea?
As she sails in the Lowlands low, low, low,
As she sails in the Lowlands low"'
5. "Oh, I will give you gold, I will give you fee,
And you may have my daughter your bride for to be,
If you sink her in the Lowlands Iow, low, low,
If you sink her in the Lowlands low-"
6 He leaped into the sea and away swam he,
He swam till he came to the Turkish Revelee,
As she sailed in the Lowlands low,low, low,
As she sailed in the Lowlands low.
7 Then out of his pocket an auger he drew,
He bored seven holes and let the water through,
As she sailed in the Lowlands low,low,low,
As she sailed in the Lowlands low-
8 Some were playing cards and some were playing checks,
But soon they were in water all up to their necks,
As they sailed in the Lowlands low,low,low,
As they sailed in the Lowlands low.
9 He fell upon his breast and away swam he,
And he swam back again to the Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed in the Lowlands low, low, low,
As she sailed in the Lowlands low-
10. Saying, "Captain, O Captain, please take me back on board,
O Captain, I hope that you will keep your word,
As we sail in the Lowlands low, low, low,
As we sail in the Lowlands low."
11. "O no, sir, O no, sir, I can't take you on board,
O I can't be so kind as to keep a foolish word,
As we sail in the Lowlands low, low, low,
As we sail in the Lowlands low.
12 He fell upon his breast and away swam he,
And bade a sad farewell to the Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed in the Lowlands low, low, low,
As she sailed in the Lowlands low.