Motley Words

There was a ship that sailed, all on the Lowland Sea,
And the name of that ship was the Golden Vanity
And we feared she would be taken by the Spanish enemy
As she drifted in the Lowland, Lowland, low,

She drifted 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 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,
And he sank her in the Lowland, Lowland low,

He sank 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 entreaties 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 Vanity’s 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.
And he sank in the Lowland, Lowland, [hold] low,
He sank in the Lowland Sea.