Example: The Golden Vanity
Plot: "The Golden Vanity" tells the story of a cabin boy who volunteers to sink three enemy ships. In exchange the captain promises gold and silver, land, and his daughter's hand in marriage. The cabin boy then swims to the ships and sinks them by boring holes in the sides of the ship. Exhausted, he swims back to the ship, but the captain breaks his promise and won't help him up. When he is nearly drowned his shipmates haul him on deck where he soon dies. They stitch him in his hammock and cast him overboard after a brief funeral service. The cabin boy then drifts slowly away with the tide. Major Themes:
Why this song survives: This song tells a story that leaves me mad at the deception and betrayal of the captain, but I am moved by the respect, tenderness and love the crew shows to the cabin boy. I think the song survives because the themes remain powerful to this day and the story is both sweet and sad. Scansion for form, structure and repetition: 1. There was a ship that sailed (A) 6 2. all on the Lowland Sea, (B) 6 3. and the name of our ship (C) 6 4. was the Golden Vanity (B) 7 5. and we feared she would be taken (D) 8 6. by the Spanish enemy (B) 7 7. as she sailed in the Lowland, (E) 7 The last three lines repeat in every verse. 8. Lowland, low (F) 3 9. as she sailed in the Lowland sea. (B) 8 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. The boy he made him read And overboard sprang he and he swam alongside of the Spanish enemy And with his brace and auger in her side he bored holes three, And he sunk her in the Lowland, Lowland Low, And 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 And he left him in the Lowland Sea. Then quickly he swam round to the port side And up 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 And he sank in the Lowland sea. |
A Word Slinging, Song Singing, Story Swapping, Poet, Raconteur, Teacher, & Craftsman
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