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The Golden Vanity

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John Renfro Davis

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An early version of this ballad appears circa 1635 as Sir Walter Raleigh Sailing In The Lowlands (Shewing how the famous Ship called the Sweet Trinity was taken by a false Gally & how it was again restored by the craft of a little Sea-boy, who sunk the Gally. The ballad was first lisenced in June-November 1685. The tune is about a famous ship The Sweet Trinity that was taken by a fake galley and was recovered. In the tune Raleigh is portrayed as arrogant, selfish and ungrateful. Quite a contrast to the courtier placing the cloak over the puddle for the Queen.
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There was a ship that sailed
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
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.

The 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.

HOW TO BEHAVE:

You're nearly ready for your opening act. Just master these etiquette rules and let the overture begin:
1. Singing along should be limited to the loud parts.
2. Yelling "Your voice stinks, you lousy bum!" is discouraged ... unless you're in Italy.

(which is true , i understand)

3. Using the conductor for target practice is frowned upon ... except by the musicians.
4. If you must chew gum, masticate in rhythm.

C'est Dans Le Mois De Mai (En montant la rivière)
Raoul Roy; 1:37 [Track 3, side A] file: CFS703.mp3


This is another fine example of how an ancient French folk song was transformed into a canoe-paddling tune, though its amorous verses might just as easily reflect the sentiments of a voyageur sweetheart and of how eagerly he looks forward to rejoining her in the month of May, "when all the girls are pretty", and he wishes he could spend the rest of his days with her in a little cottage near a brooklet.

The song was collected in New Brunswick by Rev. Fathers Danial and Anselme.



C'est dans le mois de mai
En montant la rivière
C'est dans le mois de mai
Que les filles sont belles

Que les filles sont belles oh gai
Que les filles sont belles

Et que tous les amants
En montant la rivière
Et que tous les amants
Y changent leur maîtresse

Y changent leur maîtresse oh gai
Y changent leur maîtresse

Mais moi je n'changerai pas
En montant la rivière
Mais moi je n'changerai pas
Car la mienne est trop belle
ACar la mienne est trop belle oh gai
Car la mienne est trop belle

Ah comme il serait doux
En montant la rivière
Ah comme il serait doux
D'avoir un baiser d'elle

D'avoir un baiser d'elle oh gai
D'avoir un baiser d'elle

Mais encore bien plus doux
En montant la rivière
Mais encore bien plus doux
De coucher avec elle

De coucher avec elle oh gai
De coucher avec ell