The Golden Vanity
"The Golden Vanity" is a story-song that mesmerizes you... you have to keep listening to find out what happens in the end.
You can listen to the song in the recording below.
The Golden Vanity
Folk Song
There was a little ship and she sailed out to sea
And the name of the ship was the Golden Vanity
And she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
And she sailed upon the lonesome sea.
Well she had not been out for two weeks or three
When she was overtaken by the Turkish Revolli
While she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
While she sailed upon the lonesome sea.
Then up speak our little cabin boy saying,
"What will you give to me if I would them destroy
If I sink them in the low and lonesome low
If I sink them in the lonesome sea?"
"The man that them destroys," our captain then replied,
"Five thousand pounds, and my daughter for your bride
If you sink them in the low and lonesome low
If you sink them in the lonesome sea!"
The boy bent his breast and away swam he
He swam till he came to the Turkish Revolli
As she lay upon the low and lonesome low
As she lay upon the lonesome sea.
He had a little tool which was made for the use
He bored nine holes in her hull all at once
And she sank upon the low and lonesome low
And she sank upon the lonesome sea.
The boy bent his breast and back swam he saying,
"Captain, take me up, for I'm weary with the tide
And I'll drown upon the low and lonesome low
And I'll drown upon in the lonesome sea."
"I will not take you up," our captain then replied,
"I'll shoot you, I'll drown you, I'll sink you in the tide
I will sink you in the low and lonesome low
I will sink you in the lonesome sea."
"If it were not for the love which I bare for your men
I'd do unto you as I did unto them
I would sink you in the low and lonesome low
I would sink you in the lonesome sea."
Notes
The first version of this song in print dates back to the 17th century and was called "Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing In The Lowlands".
"The Golden Vanity" is also known as "The Sweet Trinity".
There are many version of this song from both the UK and the US.