Turkish Revery- Ives (IL) pre 1941 REC 1959
[According to Richard Dyer-Bennet, he learned his version from Burl Ives in 1941. Ives (June 14, 1909 – April 14, 1995) recorded a version on Ballads with Guitar (1959). Ives learned many of his ballads and folk songs in Illinois when he was growing up. I do not know Ives source. This version seems traditional because it is missing the first verses and has Pharaoh's daughter- the shortening may have been done, however, to make the length of the ballad around 3 minutes for the recording.
Ives later recorded at least one other version titled "Golden Vanity" which is probably not traditional but arranged.
R. Matteson 2014]
Turkish Revery- Sung by Burl Ives (1959) and Richard Dyer-Bennet
"Captain, captain. What'll you give me,
If I do sink the Turkish Revery,
If you sink her in the low down, low down, low down,
Sink her in the low down lonesome low."
Gold and silver, shining so bright,
And the Pharaoh's daughter shall wed you tonight
If you sink her in the low down, low down, low down,
Sink her in the low down lonesome low.
So he bared his breast and he swam in the tide,
And he bored three holes in the old ship's side
And she sank in the low down low down, low down,
Sank in the low down lonesome low
Then he bared his breast, and back swam he,
And he swam 'til he came to his own ship's lee.
As she rolled on the low down low down, lowdown,
Rolled on the low down lonesome low
Captain, Captain take me on board,
If you don't you'll have to forfeit your word,
For you promised in the low down low down, low down,
Promised in the low down lonesome low
Sailor boy, sailor boy. Don't appeal to me,
For you drown'd sixty souls when you sank the Revery
When you sank her in the low down, low down, low down,
Sank her in the low down lonesome low
If it weren't for the love that I bear for your men,
I'd sink you the same as I sank them
I'd sink you in the low down, low down, low down,
Sink you in the low down lonesome low
Then he bared his breast, and down swam he,
And he swam 'til he came to the bottom of the sea
Where he drowned, in the low down low down, low down,
Drowned in the low down lonesome low.