The Lowlands Low- Barron (NE) 1919 Pound
[From: American Ballads and Songs- Louise Pound, 1922. Her notes for No. 10: The Lowlands Low. Compare The Sweet Trinity, Child, No. 286. Sung by James R. Barron of Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1919. Mr. Barron is from the Shetland Islands. Secured by L. C. Wimberly.
R. Matteson 2014]
10. THE LOWLANDS LOW
Up then spake our noble cabin boy,
Saying, "What will you give me if I will them destroy?
If I will them destroy, send them floating o'er the tide,
And sink them in the Lowlands, the Lowlands low,
And sink them in the Lowlands low?"
"O the man that them destroys," the captain made reply,
"A fortune he shall have and my daughter to wife,
A fortune he shall have and my daughter beside,
If he'll sink them in the Lowlands, the Lowlands low,
If he'll sink them in the Lowlands low."
The one was playing at cards and the other playing at dice,
The boy swam up and he scuttled them so nice,
He scuttled them so nice, sent them floating with the tide,
And sank them in the Lowlands low,
And sank them in the Lowlands low.
The boy swam first unto the starboard side,
Saying, "Captain pick me up for I'm wearied with the tide,
O Captain pick me up for I'm wearied with the tide
And I'm sinking in the Lowlands, the Lowlands low,
And I'm sinking in the Lowlands low."
"O no," replied the Captain, "I will not pick you up,
1 will sink you, I will shoot you, send you floating with the tide,
I will sink you, I will shoot you, send you floating with the tide,
And I'll sink you in the Lowlands, the Lowlands low,
And I'll sink you in the Lowlands low."
The boy swam round unto the starboard side,
Saying, "Messmates, pick me up, for I'm wearied with the tide,
O messmates, pick me up for I'm wearied with the tide,
And I'm sinking in the Lowlands, the Lowlands low,
And I'm sinking in the Lowlands low."
His messmates picked him up, and on the deck he died.
They sewed him up in his hammock so wide,
They sewed him up, sent him floating with the tide,
And they sank him in the Lowlands, the Lowlands low,
And they sank him in the Lowlands low.