Now there was a bonny ship in the North country The name that she went under was the Golden Vanity She fears she will be taken by the Turkish privateer As she sails along the lowlands low As she sails along the lowlands low In the lowlands, in the lowlands As she sails along the lowlands low Now the first that come on deck was the little cabin boy Says, "Captain, what'll you give to me if I do them destroy?" "I'll give you gold and silver, my daughter for your bride If you'll sink them in the lowlands low If you'll sink them in the lowlands low." In the lowlands, in the lowlands If you'll sink them in the lowlands low So the captain held the keel light, and overboard he goes He swam till he came to the Turkish privateer He's let the water in and he's dazzled out her lights And he sank them in the lowlands low And he sank them in the lowlands low In the lowlands, in the lowlands He sank them in the lowlands low Then it's back to the ship so quickly he swam "Captain, captain, pick me up; my work I've bravely done Captain, pick me up, for I'm sinking in the sea
I'm sinking in the lowlands low And I'm sinking in the lowlands low." In the lowlands, in the lowlands I'm sinking in the lowlands low "Pick you up, pick you up?" The captain said he "Oh no, you foolish youngster, that can never be For I'm going to send you after the Turkish ivory I'll sink you in the lowlands low And I'll sink you in the lowlands low." In the lowlands, in the lowlands I'll sink you in the lowlands low So he swam around the ship all to the starboard side "Shipmates, pick me up, for I'm sinking in the tide Shipmates, pick me up, for I'm sinking in the sea I'm sinking in the lowlands low And I'm sinking in the lowlands low." In the lowlands, in the lowlands I'm sinking in the lowlands low So his shipmates picked him up, and on the deck he died They sewed him in his hammock, which was both long and wide They sewed him in his hammock and they threw him o'er the side They sank him in the lowlands low And they sank him in the lowlands low In the lowlands, in the lowlands They sank him in the lowlands low