The Golden Willow Tree (Weepin' Willow Tree)- Morris (KY) 1937 Lomax
[From the Child Ballads in the United States, recorded by Alan and Elizabeth Lomax, one of two recordings they made of this ballad. Notes follow by Bronson. This is not titled correctly so I changed it to "Weepin' Willow Tree." This version is very similar to the version in The Land of Saddle-bags: A Study of the Mountain People of Appalachia by James Watt Raine, 1924.
R. Matteson 2014]
The home port of the victor in this chance naval encounter, by whatever name the vessel is known, is likely to change with every fresh version, though latterly at least in this country, the Turks seem to have a fairly constant claim to her opponent, and the Lowlands Low is always the scene of the engagement. There is, so far as has been determined, no historical basis for the story, which anyhow occurred too early for Russian divers to have had anything to do with the catastrophe. Sir Walter Raleigh is charged in the earliest version known (late seventeenth century) with the Captain's inexplicable treachery to his little ship-boy, so good at need with his invaluable instrument. But Raleigh's fair fame seems to have defeated these unjust aspersions in the long run, for tradition has apparently not cared to preserve them. The Turkish seamen's way of amusing themselves when not on duty ("reading checks" ) is a novelty in Morris's version. Earlier, they played with dice, and from that to playing checkers is no unbridgeable distance. But the checks had best have been written with a nautical pen --a later invention than the sea-going augur. Though both our versions come from inland sources, the song has been current mainly in the maritime states.
THE SWEET TRINITY or THE GOLDEN VANITY
(Child No. 286)
B4 [(c) "The Golden Willow Tree." ("Weepin' Willow Tree.") Sung by Jimmy Morris, Hazard, Kentucky, 1937. Recorded by Alan and Elizabeth Lomax.]
1. There was a little ship in South Americ-e-e
Cryin' O the lands that lie so low
There was a little ship in South Americ-e-e
That went by the name of the Weepin' Willow Tree
And it sailed in the Lowlands so low.
2. It hadn't been a-sailing but two weeks or three
Cryin' O the lands that lie so low
It hadn't been a-sailing but two weeks or three
When it was approached by a Turkish Travelee
To sink her in the Lowlands low.
3. Captain, O captain, what will we do?
Cryin O the land that lies so low
Captain, O captain, what will we do?
If they overtake us they'll cut us in two
They will sink us in the Lowlands so low.
4. Up stepped a little carpenter boy,
Cryin O the land that lies so low
Up stepped a little carpenter boy,
Said What will you give if the ship I'll destroy?
I will sink'em in the Lowlands so low.
5. I'll give silver and I'll give gold,
Cryin' O the land that lies so low
I'll give silver and I'll give gold,
I'll give the fairest daughter in my household
If you'll sink 'em in the Lowlands so low.
6. He dived straight down and away swum he,
Cryin' O the land that lies so low
He dived straight down and away swum he,
He swum till he come to the Turkish Travelee
To sink her in the Lowlands low.
7. He had a little instrument suitable to his use,
Cryin' O the land that lies so low
He had a little instrument suitable to his use,
He bored nine holes and in flowed the juice
Then he sank 'em in the Lowlands so low.
8. The men was playing cards and some was reading checks, [2]
Cryin' 0 the lands that lie so low
Some was playing cards and some was reading checks,
First thing they know'd they's in water to their necks
They was sinkin' in the Lowlands low.
9. He turned back around and back swum he,
Cryin' O the lands that lie so low
He turned back around and back swum he,
He swum till he come to the Weepin' Willow Tree
Where she sailed in the Lowlands low.
10. Captain, O captain, take me on board,
Cryin' O the lands that lie so low
Captain, O captain, take me on board,
And be unto me as good as your word
I have sunk 'em in the Lowlands so low.
11. (No,) O no, I won't take you on board,
Cryin' O the lands that lie so low
No, O no, I won't take you on board,
And I won't be to you as good as my word
Though you sank 'em in the Lowlands so low.
12. If it wasn't for the love that I have for your men,
Cryin' O the lands that lie so low
If it wasn't for the love that I have for your men,
I would do unto you as I done unto them
I would sink you in the Lowlands so low.
13. (He) dived straight down and down swum he,
Cryin' O the lands that lie so low
He dived straight down and down swum he,
He swum till he come to the bottom of the sea
Sunk himself in the Lowland so low lie low
Sunk himself in the Lowlands so low.
1. See also the similar 1924 version from "Land of the Saddle-Bags" where it has "playing checks," as in checkers. Bronson says: The Turkish seamen's way of amusing themselves when not on duty ("reading checks" ) is a novelty in Morris's version. Earlier, they played with dice, and from that to playing checkers is no unbridgeable distance. But the checks had best have been written with a nautical pen --a later invention than the sea-going augur.