What are the lyrics to The Golden Vanity?

Answer 1

This is the traditional classical version of an original sea shanty, I believe. There are always minor variations in the versions you can find but I say this one is definitive. The last verse is not the sad story. But I have the sad story somewhere in my collection of songs. But where? Meanwhile I am looking for the correct version of the sheet music for piano. Can anyone help please?

The Golden Vanity

There was a gallant ship sailed from the North Countrie

And the name of the ship was the Golden Vanity

And we feared she would be taken by the Spanish enemy

As she sailed upon the lowland, lowland, lowland

She sailed upon the lowland sea.

She had not sailed a day and leagues but only three

When she came within sight of the Spanish Enemy

The fairest ship of all - oh a gallant ship was she

That sailed upon the lowland….

Then spoke to the captain a little cabin boy

What will you give me master if I do them destroy?

If I swim alongside of that Spanish Gallee

And I sink her in….

"Oh I will give you gold and I will give you store

And my daughter you will wed when we return to shore,

I'll give you my estate in the North Countrie

If you sink her in the lowland…..

Then the boy took an auger and leaped into the tide

And bravely swam away o'er the waters dark and wide

He bored three deep holes in the Spanish Gallee's side

And sank he her in the lowland ….

Then the boy swam back to the Golden Vanity

Now throw me o'er a rope and pull me up said he

But the skipper broke his word and laughing merrily

And left him in the lowland, ….

Then the boy swam round the ship and when near the starboard side

He looked up at his comrades and bitterly he cried

"O comrades take me up, for I'm drifting with the tide

And I'm drowning in the lowland,..

So they threw him o'er a rope and they pulled him up on board

And they proved unto him far better than their word,

For the captain gave him gold and his daughter fair to see

When they sailed from the lowland, lowland, lowland.. they sailed from the lowland sea.