Child's Ballads Week 12: England - Assignments - Reading - Resources - Images

Green Willow Tree [Golden Vanity] (Child 286) Listening time: (5 minutes)

CHILD 286 versions A-B. This is a song I sang as a child because I had a record with Pete Seeger singing the song. It's a great song! Lesley Nelson-Burns comments:

"An early version of this ballad appears circa 1635 as Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing In The Lowlands: Shewing how the famous Ship called the Sweet Trinity was taken by a false Gally & how it was again restored by the craft of a little Sea-boy, who sunk the Gally. In the tune Raleigh is portrayed as arrogant, selfish and ungrateful. Quite a contrast to the courtier placing the cloak over the puddle for the Queen."

In the version recorded by Max Hunter, Sir Walter Raleigh has disappeared and the ship is now called the "Green Willow Tree" instead of the "Sweet Trinity." In the version I learned as a child, it was called the "Golden Vanity"!

AUDIO RECORDING

VERSE 1
There was a fine ship started out on th sea
Cryin', O th lonesome low
There was a fine ship started out on th sea
She went by th name of th Green Willow Tree
While sailin' in th low lands, lonesome low
While sailin' in th low land sea

VERSE 2
She had'nt been on sea more than a week or three
Cryin', O th lonesome low
She had'nt been on sea more than a week or three
When she was over taken by th Turkish Revillie
While sailin' in th low land, lonesome low
While sailin' in th low land sea

VERSE 3
Up stepped th captain, what shall we do
Cryin', O th lonesome low
Up stepped th captain, what shall we do
She'll over take us, cut us intwo
She'll sink us in th low land, lonesome low
She'll sink us in th low land sea

VERSE 4
Up stepped th cabin boy, what'll you give me
Cryin', O th lonesome low
Up stepped th cabin boy, what'll you give me
If I'll go an' sink that Turkish Revillie
I'll sink 'er in th low land, lonesome low
I'll sink 'er in th low land sea

VERSE 5
O, it's I'll give you gold an' it's I'll give to thee
Cryin', O th lonesome low
O, it's I'll give you gold an' it's I'll give to thee
My eldest daughter, thy wedded wife to be
While sailin' in th low land, lonesome low
While sailin' in th low land sea

VERSE 6
He fell upon his breast an' away swam he
Cryin', O th lonesome low
He fell upon his breast an' away swam he
He set his course for th Turkish Revillie
While sailin' in th low land, lonesome low
While sailin' in th low land sea

VERSE 7
He dived underneath an' 'e went to his work
Cryin', O th lonesome low
He dived underneath an' 'e went to his work
He bored nine holes an' he bored 'em in a jerk
He sank 'er in th low land, lonesome low
He sank 'er in th low land sea

VERSE 8
He fell upon his breast an' away swam he
Cryin', O th lonesome low
He fell upon his breast an' away swam he
He set his course for th Green Willow Tree
While sailin' in th low land, lonesome low
While sailin' in th low land sea

VERSE 9
Captain, O captain, won't you take me on board
Cryin', O th lonesome low
Captain, O captain, won't you take me on board
An' won't you be as good as your word
While sailin' in th low land, lonesome low
While sailin' in th low land sea

VERSE 10
No kind sir, I won't take you on board
Cryin', O th lonesome low
No kind sir, I won't take you on board
Neither will I be as good as my word
While sailin' in th low land, lonesome low
While sailin' in th low land sea

VERSE 11
If it was'nt for respect that I have for your crew
Cryin', O th lonesome low
If it was'nt for respect that I have for your crew
I'd take time an' I 'd sink you too
I'd sink you in th low land, lonesome low
I'd sink you in th low land sea

VERSE 12
He fell upon his breast an' away swam he
Cryin', O th lonesome low
He fell upon his breast an' away swam he
He bid farewell to th Green Willow Tree
While sailin' in th low land, lonesome low
While sailin' in th low land sea

Questions. Make sure you can answer these questions about what you just read: what problem does the ship's captain face? what does he promise to the cabin boy if he takes care of the problem? what does the captain do to the cabin boy when he swims back to the ship? Source: From The Max Hunter Folksong Archive (weblink) and Lesley Nelson's Child Ballad website (weblink). See also Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (1882-1898). Weblink.