The Golden Willow Tree- Begley (KY) 1937 Lomax
[Numerous versions originated from that region in Kentucky including Jean Ritchie's family version, Wyman and Brockway's 1916, McGill's 1917, Wells' 1916 version from Pine Mountain School and several versions collected by Sharp from 1917-1918.
Aaron Copland’s "The Golden Willow Tree" written in 1952 (the third song in Old American Songs, Set 2) is Copland’s arrangement of Begley's traditional version.
Notes by Bronson below.
R. Matteson Jr. 2014]
A. & B. I. THE GOLDEN WILLOW TREE
Sung with banjo by Justus Begley at Hazard, Kentucky, 1937. Recorded by Alan and Elizabeth Lomax.
THIS is perhaps the best-known, if not the best, of the English and Scottish ballads dealing with the sea. In of the queer losses of meaning which Old World names and events have suffered, the story of the brave cabin boy and his betrayal by the false captain has lost none of its appeal for American singers and their audiences. The ship that "went by the name of the Golden Willow Tree" (more commonly, the Golden Vanity) was originally the Sweet Trinity, built by Sir Walter Raleigh. The Lowlands. or Low Countries, have become the "lowland lonesome low" (sometimes, the "lonesome sea"), while the ship itself sails against the "British Roverie" in "South Amerikee." In some versions the cabin boy, instead of being left to drown, is rescued; in others he is given a sea burial by his shipmates. Many listeners will find Justus Begley's vigorous accompaniment on the five-string banjo not the least attractive part of his performance. He sang the ballad while running for sheriff of Perry County, Kentucky. For texts and notes, see. The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, edited by Francis James Child, Part IX (Boston, 1894), No. 286. B. A. B.
1. There was a little ship in South Amerikee,
Crying, O the land that lies so low.
There was a little ship in South Amerikee,
She went by the name of the Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed in the lowland so low.
2. We hadn't been a-sailing more than two weeks or three,
Crying, O the land that lies so low.
We hadn't been a-sailing more than two weeks or three
Till we came in sight of the British Roverie,
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed in the lowland so low.
3. Up stepped a little carpenter boy,
Crying, O the lonesome land so low.
Up stepped a little carpenter boy,
Says, "What will you give me for the ship that I'll destroy?
And I'll sink 'em in the lowland lonesome low,
And I'll sink 'em in the lowland so low."
The following stanza has been omitted by the singer at this point:
Up stepped tbe Captain, says, "What we going to do?"
Crying, O the lonesome land so low.
Up stepped the Captain, says, "What we going to do?
If we overtake them, they'll cut us In two,
And they'll sink us in the lowland lonesome low,
They'll sink us in the lowland so low."
4. "I'll give you gold or I'll give thee
"Crying, O the lonesome land so low.
"I'll give you gold or I'll give thee,
The fairest of my daughters as she sails upon the sea,
If you'll sink 'em in the lowland lonesome low,
If you'll sink 'em in the land that lies so low."
5. Then he turned upon his back and away swam he,
Crying, O the lonesome land so low.
He turned upon his back and away swum he.
He swum till he came to the British Roverie,
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed in the lowland so low.
6. He had a little instrument fitted for his use,
Crying, O the lonesome land so low.
He had a little instrument fitted for his use.
He bored nine holes and he bored them all at once, [1]
And he sank her in the lowland lonesome low,
And he sank her in the lowland so low.
7. Well, he turned [2] upon his breast and back swum he,
Crying, O the lonesome land so low.
He turned upon his breast and back swum he.
He swum till he came to the Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed in the lowland so low.
8. "Captain, O Captain, come take me on board,
"Crying, O the lonesome land so low
"O Captain, O Captain, come take me on board,
And do unto me as good as your word,
For I sank 'em in the lowland lonesome low,
I sank her in the lowland so low."
9. "Oh, no, I won't take you on board,
"Crying, O the lonesome land so low,"
Oh, no, I won't take you on board,
Nor do unto you as good as my word,
Though you sank 'em in the lowland lonesome low,
Though you sank 'em in the lowland so low."
10. "If it wasn't for the love that I have for your men,"
Crying, O the land that lies so low
"If it wasn't for the love that I have for your men,
I'd do unto you as I done unto them.
I'd sink you in the lowland lonesome low,
I'd sink you in the lowland so low."
11. He turned upon his head and down swum he,
Crying, O the lonesome land so low,
He turned upon his head and down swum he.
He swum till he came to the bottom of the sea,
Sank himself in the lowland lonesome low,
Sank himself in the lowland so low.
1. This is weak here and usually rhymes with "juice" as in "salt-water juice." Also "sluice."
2. Usually "bent upon his breast" sometimes "smote upon his breast."