"He Sank Tliem in tfie Lowlands Low!n by Walter Rybka
T
he above verse is well known as the end-of-chorus line in the old song "Golden Vanity" or "Lowlands," although the latter name is attributed to several songs. This song has many variations of tune and lyrics, all of which tell the story of a brave and audacious cabin boy who saves his own ship, a merchant ship named the Golden Vanity, by sinking an enemy vessel. The boy dies when his scoundrel captain refuses to take him back aboard, in order to avoid paying the boy his promised reward. According to The Oxford Book of Sea Songs, edited by Roy Palmer, the earliest printed version dates from 16821685. It is titled "Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing in the Lowlands." In this version the name of the ship is the Sweet Trinity. The story is the same, although in this earliest version, the boy survives to win his gold and silver, but not the captain's daughter. Since the boy's method of sinking the enemy was to swim over and bore holes with an auger, the song is easy to dismiss as a fanciful tale of betrayal, set in impossible physical circumstances. Or so I thought for many years, until I heard the lyrics given below, which offer the barest possibility that the events described could have some basis in a true story. These lyrics were used in a taped version sung by Tony Rose, and are as found in Stan Hugill's Shanties from the Seven Seas (Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., London and Henley, England, 1961 ). Another popular version is sung by Gordon Bok on the "Ways of Man" album. While the two tunes are different, the lyrics are similar. Some of them are noted below as an alternate version. There once was a Captain who was boas tin' on the key, Oh, I have a ship and a gallant ship is she, Of all the ships I know she is the best for me, And she's sailin' in the Lowlands low. In the Lowlands, Lowlands, she's sailin' in the Lowlands low. "Oh, well I had her built in the North Country, And I had her christened the Golden Vanity. I armed her and I manned her and I sent her out to sea And she's sailin' in the Lowlands low." (Chorus: Each chorus begins with "In the lowlands, Lowlands" followed by the last line of the verse.) Then up stepped a sailor who was just returned from sea, "Oh I was aboard of the Golden Vanity When we was held in chase by a Spanish Piratee And we sank them in the Lowlands low." Chorus NOTE: Alternate versions name the enemy as the Turkish Revelry, Rovaree, etc.
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide, He swam until he came to the rascal pirate 's side. He climbed aboard, he went below, by none was he espied, And he sank them in the Lowlands low. Chorus Well he bored her with his auger, he bored her once or twice, Some was playin ' cards and some were play in' dice, But when he let the water in it dazzled to their eyes, And he sank them in the Lowlands sea. Chorus NOTE: Other versions do not mention climbing aboard but do say the enemy "lay along the lowlands" which implies being stationary. Also the number of holes varies from one to fifteen , in one version "nine all at once." Another alternate line is "some were in their hammocks and the sea was cold as ice." This might imply a night scene. So then the cabin boy he swam unto the starboard side Sayin' "Captain takeme upforiamdrownin' in the tide." "I'll shoot you and I' 11 kill you if you claim me child as bride And I'll sink you in the Lowlands low." Chorus So then the cabin boy he swam unto the larboard side. "Messmates take me up for I am weary with the tide." They took him up so quickly but when on deck he died and they buried him in the Lowlands sea. Chorus Yes, they took him up so quickly but when on deck he died They buried him in his hammock which was so strong and wide. They said a short prayer over him and they dropped him in the tide And they sailed from the Lowlands low. Chorus Here's a curse unto the Captain wherever he may be For takin' that poor cabin boy so far away to sea, For takin ' that poor cabin boy so far away to sea, And to leave him in the Lowlands low. Chorus NOTE: In other versions the boy is left to sink and never gets back aboard.
Well we had aboard of us a little cabin boy, who said, "What would you give me if the galley I destroy?" "I'll give to you my daughter, she is my pride and joy, If you sink them in the Lowlands low." Chorus NOTE: Alternate versions also refer to gold and silver or "five thousand pounds and my daughter for a bride." A galleass of the mid-1600s, by Gordon Grant.from Henry B. Culver's Book of Old Ships
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SEA HISTORY 77, SPRING 1996