The Lowland Sea- Bryant (IN) 1935 Brewster C
[Brewster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana]
25. THE SWEET TRINITY (THE GOLDEN VANITY)
(Child, No. 286)
Three complete texts of this ballad have been found in Indiana, all under the title of "The Lowland Sea." They are all closely related to Child C.
For American texts, see Barry, No. 1; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, p. 339; Belden, No. 78; Brown, p. 9; Campbell and Sharp, No. 35; Colcord, p. 79; Cox, No. 32; Davis, p. 516; Flanders and Brown, p. 230; Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 43 (two fragments); Hudson, No. 22; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 125; Journal, XVIII, 125; XXIII, 429; XXX, 331; XLVIII, 386 (Illinois) ; McGill, p. 97; Pound, p. 24; Scarborough, Song Catcher, p. 185; Shearin, p. 4; Shearin and Combs, p. 9 (fragment); Shoemaker, p. 126; Wyman and Brockway, p. 72; Smith and Rufty, American Anthology, p. 59; Randolph, The Ozarks, pp. 177-79; Cambiaire, East Tennessee and Western Virginia Mountain Ballads, p. 93; Creighton, p. 20; Cox, Traditional Ballads, pp. 52, 54, 56; Henry, Folk-Songs from the Southern Highlands, p. 127.
British: Greig, Last Leaves, No. 101; Williams, Folk-Songs of the Upper Thames, p. 199; JFSS, I, 104; II, 244.
C. "The Lowland Sea." Contributed by Mrs. T. M. Bryant, of Evansville, Indiana. Vanderburg County. November 14, 1935.
1. There was a jolly ship that sailed upon the sea;
It went by the name of the Irish Augeree,
And it sailed on the lowland, lonesome, low,
Yes, it sailed on the lonesome sea.
2. There was another ship that sailed upon the sea;
It went by the name of the Weeping Willow Tree,
As it sailed upon the lowland, lonesome, low,
As it sailed upon the lonesome sea.
3. Up steps a sailor boy, saying,
"What will you give me If I will sink the old Irish Augeree?
I can sink her in the lowland, lonesome, low;
I can sink her in the lonesome sea."
4 "I will give you gold and I will give you fee;
Besides, my oldest daughter your wedded wife shall be
If you will sink her in the lowland, lonesome, low,
If you'll sink her in the lonesome sea."
5. He started with his instruments all fitted for his use;
He cut nine gashes to let in a sluice,
As she sailed on the lowland, lonesome, low,
As she sailed on the lonesome sea.
6. Some were playing cards and some throwing dice;
Some standing by, giving good advice,
As she sailed on the lowland, lonesome, low,
As she sailed on the lonesome sea.
7. Some with their hats and some with their caps,
Trying for to stop those saltwater gaps
As she sank in the lowland, lonesome, low,
As she sank in the lonesome sea.
8. He turned on his back and away swam he
Until he came to the Weeping Willow Tree,
As she sailed on the lowland, lonesome, low,
As she sailed on the lonesome sea.
9. "Captain, O Captain, be as good as your word,
And will you not take me up on board?
For I sunk her in the lowland, lonesome, low,
I sunk her in the lonesome sea."
10. "No, I won't be as good as my word;
Neither will I take you up on board;
You can sink in the lowland, lonesome, low,
You can sink in the lowland sea."
11. "If it wasn't for the love I have for your men,
I'd serve you the trick that I just served them;
I would sink you in the lowland, lonesome, low,
I'd sink you in the lonesome sea."
12. He turned on his back, and away swam he,
And he bid adieu to the Weeping Willow Tree,
As he sunk in the lowland, lonesome, low,
As he sunk in the lonesome sea.