Interesting Facts about The Lowlands Low (A)
The lilt of the word ‘Lowlands’ seemed to have a fascination for the shantyman and sailor in general. A very ancient song of the sea sings of the Lowlands of Holland, those of Scottland, and even the Lowlands of Virginia were all woven into the songs of the shantyman. Stan Hugill mentioned that Capitan Davis (“Sailors’ Songs and Shanties” – 1887) gives it as a shanty, but Stan Hugill and many of his shipmates have sung this old song at both capstan and pumps.
This song will be reconstructed as the capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 62, 63). I will try to recreate is capstan, and I heard it on Stan Hugill’s album – “A Salty Fore Topman” (1989).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 62, 63).
The Record of The Lowlands Low (A)
You also can find this record on my YouTube channel here or directly listen below. Additionally, if you want to share your opinion about the record or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or leave a comment at the bottom of this blog article.
The musical notation
The full lyrics
The Lowlands Low (A)
There once was a skipper who was boastin’ on the quay,
Oh, I have a ship and a gallant ship is she,
Of all the ships I know. She is far the best to me,
an’ she’s sailing in the Low-lands, Low.
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, she’s sailing in the, Lowlands Low!
* 2 *
Oh, I had her built in the North a-counterie,
And I have her christened The “Golden Vanitee”.
I armed her and I manned her an’ I sent her off to sea
And she’s sailing in the low-lands, low.
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and she’s sailing in the...
* 3 *
Then up spoke a sailor who had just returned from sea
‘Oh, I wuz aboard of the “Golden Vanitee”
When she wuz held in chase by a Spanish piratee
And we sank her in the low-lands, low.
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and we sank her in the...
* 4 *
Oh, we had aboard o’ us a little cabin-boy
Who said, – “What will ye give me if the galley I destroy?”
Oh, ye can wed my daughter, she is my pride and joy
If ye sink her in the low-lands, low.
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, if ye sink her in the...
* 5 *
‘Of treasure and of gold I will give to ye a store,
And my pretty little daughter that dwelleth on the shore,
Of treasure and of fee as well I’ll give to thee galore,
If ye sink her in the low-lands, low.
– In the Low–lands, Lowlands, if ye sink her in the...
* 6 *
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide
An’ he swam until he came to the rascal pirate’s side
He climbed on the deck an’ went below, by none was he espied
And he sank’em in the low–lands, low.
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and he sank’em in the...
* 7 *
He bore with his auger, he bored once an’ twice
And some were playin’ cards an’ some were playin’ dice
An’ water flowed in an’ dazzled their eyes
An’ he sank’em in the low–lands, low.
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, an’ he sank’em in the...
* 8 *
Oh, some were playing cards, oh, an’ some were playin’ dice
And some wuz in their hammocks a-sportin’ with their wives
An’ then he let the water in an’ put out all their lights
And he sank her in the low-lands, low.
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and he sank her in the...
* 9 *
Then the cabin-boy did swim o’er to the starboard side
Sayin’ – “Capen, take me up, I am drifting with the tide.”
“I will ink ye, I will kill ye, if ye claim my child as bride,
I will sink ye in the low-lands, low.”
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, I will sink ye in the...
Then the cabin-boy did swim all to the lardboard side
Sayin’ – “Shipmates take me up for I’m drowinin’ with the tide.”
They hauled him up so quickly, but when on deck he died
And they buried him in the low-lands, low.
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and they buried him in the …
* 11 *
‘And his shipmates took him up, and when on deck he died
They sewed him in his hammock which was so strong and wide
They said a short prayer o’er him, and they dropped him in the tide
And they sailed from the low-lands, low.
– In the Low-lands, Lowlands, and they sailed from the …
* 12 *
Here’s a curse upon that Captain, wherever he may be
For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea
For taking a poor cabin-boy so far away to sea
And to leave him in the low-lands, low.
– In the Low–lands, Lowlands, and to leave him in the ...