Interesting Facts about The Lowlands Low (B)
This version, of The Lowlands Low (B), Stan Hugill had from his shipmate Jack Birch of Plymouth. This song is known as “Lowlands”, “The Lowland Sea”, “The Golden Vanitee”, or “The Lowlands Low” and seems to have been based on a ballad of the seventeenth century entitled “Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing in the Lowlands”.
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 64).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 62, 63).
The Record of The Lowlands Low (B)
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 (B)
There was a lofty ship boys, an’ she put aut to sea
An’ she goes by the name of the Golden Vanitee
An’ we thought she would be taken by the spanish piratee
– as we sailed along the lowlands, lowlands
– as we sailed along the lowlands low!
* 2 *
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 lowlands, lowlands
– If ye sink her in the lowlands low!
* 3 *
‘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 lowlands, lowlands
– If ye sink her in the lowlands low!
* 4 *
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 lowlands, lowlands
– And he sank’em in the lowlands low!
* 5 *
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 lowlands, lowlands
– An’ he sank’em in the lowlands low!
* 6 *
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 lowlands, lowlands
– And he sank her in the lowlands low!
* 7 *
Then the cabin-boy did swim o’er to the starboard side
Sayin’ – “Capen, take me up, I am drifting with the tide.”
“iI will ink ye, I will kill ye if ye claim my child as bride,
-il will sink ye in the lowlands, lowlands
-iI will sink ye in the lowlands Low!
* 8 *
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 lowlands, lowlands
– And they buried him in the lowlands low!
* 9 *
‘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 lowlands, lowlands
– And they sailed from the lowlands low!
* 10 *
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 lowlands, lowlands
– And to leave him in the lowlands low!