The Golden Vanity<br>
The Golden Vanity<br>
Traditional<br>
Two verses and chorus<br>
(8-bit, mono): .mp3 (542<br>
KB)<br>
Two verses and chorus (high quality): .mp3<br>
(339 KB)<br>
Full Song: .mp3 (1.5 MB)<br>
"The Golden Vanity" is performed by<br>
Mary Smith<br>
<br>
Notes: according to Hugill (in Shanties<br>
of the Seven Seas), this song appears to be based on the seventeenth<br>
century ballad called Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing in the Lowlands. Although<br>
it's<br>
not always considered a sea shanty, Hugill cites it as a capstan. Hugill<br>
lists 5 additional verses, but the story is still the same -- just more<br>
detailed.<br>
sheet music | ABC<br>
notation<br>
Oh there was a ship that sailed, all across the lowland sea<br>
[There was a lofty ship, and they put her out to sea]<br>
And the name of the ship was the Golden Vanity<br>
And we feared she would be taken by the Spanish enemy<br>
And they'd sink her in the lowland, lo<br>
They'd sink her in the lowland sea<br>
Then boldly up spoke our little cabin boy,<br>
Saying: "What would you give me if the galley I destroy?<br>
If I sink her in the lowland, lowland low,<br>
If I sink her in the lowland sea."<br>
"A treasure chest of gold and silver I'll give to thee<br>
And my own fairest daughter, thy bonnie bride shall be<br>
If you'll swim along side the Spanish enemy<br>
And sink her in the lowland, lowland low<br>
If you'll sink them in the lowland sea."<br>
So, the boy he made ready, and overboard sprang he,<br>
And he swam to the side of the Spanish enemy<br>
And with his brace and auger, in her side he bored holes three<br>
And sank her in the lowland, lowland lo<br>
He sank her in the lowland sea<br>
Then the boy, he did swim back, to the cheering of the crew<br>
But the captain would not heed him, for his promise he did rue<br>
He scorned his sad entreaties, though loudly he did suit<br>
And he left him in the lowland, lowland lo<br>
He left him in the lowland sea<br>
Then the boy he turned round and swam to the port side<br>
And up unto his messmates, full bitterly he cried,<br>
Saying "Messmates, pull me up for I'm drifting with the tide,<br>
And I'm sinking in the lowland, lowland low<br>
I'm sinking in the lowland sea. "<br>
Well his messmates pulled him up but on the deck he died<br>
And they placed him in his hammock, which was so fair and wide<br>
And they lowered him down, and over the port side<br>
And he sank into the lowland, lo<br>
He sank into the lowland sea<br>