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Mrs. Edward Gallagher (Catherine ) recorded at Chebucto Head Lighthouse, Halifax, Nova Scotia,1943

lyrics

Golden Vanity - Mrs. Edward Gallagher [2:34]
AC: 2224 - MF NO: 289.29

Recorded: Chebucto Head, 1943. See: TSNS p. 101.

There was a rich merchant ship from the northern country,
The name of the ship was the Golden Vanity,
They were scared they’d be taken by the Spanish enemy,
That sailed upon the lowlands, lowlands, low,
That sailed upon the lowlands, low.

Then up spoke a youth, he was a cabin boy,
He said to the captain, “Oh, what will you give me,
If I swim alongside the Spanish enemy,
And sink her in the lowlands, lowlands, low,
And sink her in the lowlands, low?”

“Oh, I will give you silver and I will give you gold,
I’ll give my only daughter your bride to have and hold,
If you will swim alongside the Spanish enemy,
And sink her in the lowlands, lowlands, low,
And sink her in the lowlands, low.”

Then the boy made ready and overboard sprang he,
He swam alongside of the Spanish enemy,
And with his auger sharp in his side he bored holes three,
And he sank her in the lowlands, lowlands, low,
And he sank her in the lowlands, low.

Then the boy turned ‘round and back again swam he,
He called to the skipper of the Golden Vanity,
But the skipper would not heed from his promise would be freed,
So he left him in the lowlands, lowlands, low,
So he left him in the lowlands, low.

Then the boy turned ‘round and swam to the port side,
He called to his shipmates and bitterly he cried,
Saying, “Shipmates, pick me up for I’m drifting with the tide,
And I’m sinking in the lowlands, lowlands, low,
And I’m sinking in the lowlands, low.”

Then his shipmates picked him up but on the deck he died,
They wrapped him in his hammock which was so long and wide,
They lowered him overboard and he drifted with the tide,
And he sank beneath the lowlands, lowlands, low,
And he sank beneath the lowlands, low.

credits

from The Helen Creighton Folklore Society Presents: Songs of the Sea, released May 24, 2023

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Helen Creighton Folklore Society Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Honoring folklorist Helen Creighton (1899-1989), who collected and published traditional music and lore of Maritime Canada. The mandate of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society is to encourage and promote work that reflects the diverse folk culture of the Maritimes as exemplified by the work begun by Dr. Creighton. For more information visit our website at: www.helencreighton.org. ... more

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