Once there was a skipper, he was boasting on the quay
Saying, "I have a ship, and a gallant ship is she
Oh I have a ship, and a gallant ship is she
Of all the ships that I do know she's far the best to me"
In the Old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low
"Oh I had her built in the northern country
And I had her christened the Golden Vanity
I had her christened the Golden Vanity
I armed her and I manned her and I sent her off to sea"
In the Old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low
Then up spoke a sailor who had just returned from sea
"Oh I served on board of the Golden Vanity
Oh I served on board of the Golden Vanity
When she was held in chase by a Spanish Pirateé"
In the Old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low
And we had on board with us a little cabin boy
Who said, "What will you give me if the galleon I destroy?
Oh what will you give me if the galleon I destroy?"
"Oh you shall have my daughter, she is my pride and joy
"If you sink 'em in the Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low"
So the boy bared his breast and he plunged into the tide
And he swam and he swam to the rascal pirate's side
He swam and he swam to the rascal pirate's side
And he climbed on deck and he went below and none did him espy
And he sank 'em in the Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low
He bored with his auger, he bored it once and twice
And some were playing cards and some were playing dice
And the water it flowed in, and it dazzled their eyes
The water it flowed out, and took with it their lives
And he sank 'em in the Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low
And he swam and he swam up to the starboard side
Saying, "Captain, take me up, I am drifting with the tide
Oh captain, take me up!" But so loud the captain cried
"I shall sink you, I shall kill you! You shall not have your bride
"I shall sink you in the Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low"
His shipmates took him up and on the deck he died
They sewed him in his hammock, which was so long and wide
They sewed him in his hammock, it was so long and wide
They prayed for him, they sang for him, they sank him with the tide
In the Old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low
My curse be on you, Captain, wherever you may be
My curse be on the captain of the Golden Vanity
In waking and in sleeping, until your dying day
For you gave your oath to him, and you did him betray
In the Old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands
Lowlands, low
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, low