The Weep-Willow Tree- McIntosh (KY) 1932 Niles
[From John Jacob Niles, Ballad Book. Considering Niles circumlocutions around and about the state of Kentucky I'd say it's surprising he only encountered this ballad once.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Weep-Willow Tree (Niles No. 61)
1. Oh, my father has a fine ship a-sailin' on the sea,
And they call her by the name of the Weep-Willow Tree,
And she sails up and down on the lonesome low,
And she sails on the lonesome sea,
And she sails on the lonesome sea.
2. Now they be another ship and she sails on the sea,
And they call her by the name of the Turkish Piree, [1]
But I fear she will sink the Weep-Willow Tree,
As she sails on the lonesome sea,
As she sails on the lonesome sea.
3. 'Twas a sailor, a sailor, who quickly spoke, spake he, sayin':
"Captain, my Captain, what will my prize be,
If I should go sink you the Turkish Piree,
If I sink her in the lonesome sea,
If I sink her in the lonesome sea?',
4, "Oh, I will give you gold and I will give you fee,"
Said the Captain to the sailor of the Weep-Willow Tree,
"And my eldest fairest daughter your sweet bride will be,
If you sink her in the lonesome sea,
If you sink her in the lonesome sea."
5. Oh, the sailor-man was brave and the sailor-man was bold,
As he augered and he augered through the Turkish pirate's hold;
And some did play at cards while some did play melee,
As they sank in the lonesome sea,
As they sank in the lonesome sea.
6. Now the sailor-man crept down and slowly back swam he,
And he swam round the side of the weep-willow Tree, cryin':
"Help me, my Captain, and come give me my fee,
Lest I drown in the lonesome sea,
Lest I drown in the lonesome sea."
7. Oh, he swam the tother side of the Weep-Willow Tree,
And he cried, "Oh my messmates, pray come and succor me,
'Cause I augered forty holes in the Turkish Piree,
And I'm sinkin' in the lonesome sea,
And I'm sinkin' in the lonesome sea."
8. Oh, they hauled him o'er the side of the Weep-Willow Tree,
And he died on the deck with his messmates three,
And they sewed him in his hammock and they sent him out to sea,
And he sank in the lonesome sea,
And he sank in the lonesome sea.
1. from Pirate