Golden Vanity - Burl Ives

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