There was a ship that sailed it all on the Lowland Sea,
And the name of our ship was the Golden Vanity
And we feared she would be taken by the Spanish enemy
Chorus: As she sailed in the Lowland, Lowland, low,
As she sailed 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 him 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,
He sunk her in the Lowland, Lowland low,
Yes, 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,
He left him in the Lowland Sea.
Then quickly he swam round to the 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.