The Golden Vanity

AO Scheduled Folksong - OCTOBER 2020


Oh there was a lofty ship, and a lofty ship was she
And the name of that ship, it was the Golden Vanity
And she feared she would be taken by the Spanish enemy
As she sailed on the lowland, lowland low
As she sailed on the lowland sea.


Then up spoke a little cabin boy, and boldly outspoke he
And he said to the captain, "What will you give to me
If I swim along the side of the Spanish enemy
And I sink her in the lowland, lowland low
I sink her in the lowland sea?"


"Oh I will give you silver, and I will give you gold
And my own fair daughter your bonnie bride shall be
If you'll swim along the side of the Spanish enemy
And you'll sink her in the lowland, lowland low
You'll sink her in the lowland sea!"


So the boy, he made him ready, and overboard jumped he
And he swam along the side of the Spanish enemy
With his brace and auger in her side he bored holes three
And he sank her in the lowland, lowland low
He sank her in the lowland sea.


Then quickly he swam back to the cheering of the crew
But the captain did not heed him, for his promise he did rue
And he scorned his poor entreatings, when loudly he did sue
And he left him in the lowland, lowland low
He left him in the lowland sea.


Then quickly he swam round to the port side
And up unto his messmates, full bitterly he cried,
"Oh messmates, draw me up, for I'm drifting with the tide,
And I'm sinking in the lowland, lowland low
I'm sinking in the lowland sea!"


Well, his shipmates brought him out, but on the deck he died
And they stitched him in a hammock that was so fair and white
And they lowered him overboard and he drifted with the tide,
And he sank into the lowland, lowland low
He sank into the lowland sea.