The Golden Vanity

(album: Folk Songs Dramatic And Humorous - 1953)

There was a ship that sailed it all on the Lowland Sea
And the name of our ship was the Golden Vanity
And we feared she would be taken by the Spanish enemy
As she sailed in the Lowland, Lowland, low
As she sailed in the Lowland Sea

Then up stepped our cabin boy and boldly outspoke he
And he said to our captain, "What would you give to me
If I would swim along side of the Spanish enemy
And sink her in the Lowland, Lowland, low
And sink her in the Lowland Sea?"

"Oh, I would give you silver and I would give you gold
And my own fairest daughter your bonny bride shall be
If you will swim along side of the Spanish enemy
And sink her in the Lowland, Lowland, low
And sink her in the Lowland Sea"

Then the boy he made him ready and overboard sprang he
And he swam alongside of the Spanish enemy
And with his brace and auger in her sides he bored holes three
He sunk her in the Lowland, Lowland low
Yes, he sunk her in the Lowland Sea

Then quickly he swam back to the cheering of the crew
But the captain would 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 and to 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"

Then his messmates drew him up, but on the deck he died
And they stitched him in his hammock which was so fair and wide
And they lowered him overboard and he drifted with the tide
And he sank in the Lowland, Lowland, low
He sank in the Lowland Sea