Golden Merrilee- Scheffer (FL) pre1950 Morris A
[From Folksongs of Florida by Morris, 1950. The missing lines should have been available since Scheffer apparently knew this ballad and sank it repeatedly. It seems that perhaps they were added by Morris since the stanzas were irregular. Notes from Morris follow:
R. Matteson 2014]
For a Scottish version, see Ford's Vagabond' Songs and Ballad's of Scotland, p. 103. See also Gould and Fleetwood's version collected in South Brent (Ballads and Songs from the West, III, 25), and Logan's A Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs for two variants, pp. 42-46. For additional American variants, see Sharp, I, 290; Cox, pp. 169-171; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 339-347; Flanders and Brown, pp. 230- 231; Henry, FSSFI, pp. 127-130; Hudson, pp. 125- 127; Scarborough, SC, pp. 187-189; Pound, pp.24-26; Shoemaker, pp. 125-128; McGill, pp. 97-98; Flanders and Norfleet, pp. 40-41: JAFL, XVIII, 125-127; XXIII, 429-430; xxx, 331; XLV, 26-29; XLVIII, 312-314, 386-388; Kirkland, p. 79; Smith and Rufty, pp. 59-63; Wyman and Brockway, LT, pp. 72-75; Cambiaire, p. 93; Shearin and Combs, p. 9; Randolph, Ozark, pp- 177-179; Belden, pp. 97-100, Brewster, pp. 158-153; Gardner and Chickering, pp. 214-215; Davis, Folksongs, p. 35; and Randolph, I, 195-201 For a fictional use to which a variant has been put, see Matschat, Sawannee River, p. 67.
THE SWEET TRINITY (THE GOLDEN VANITY)
(Child, No. 286)
"THE GOLDEN MERRILEE." Text furnished by Mrs. D. O. Scheffer from the singing of "Daddy" Scheffer, her father-in-law, Dowling Park. Mr. Scheffer does not" know from whom he learned his songs. He remembers the songs by the story which they tell. His grandfather came from Germany to Florida and settled on a large plantation near the present site of Tallahassee. Mr. Scheffer's father also sang the "Golden Merrilee," and, according to Mr. Scheffer, usually concluded with "I'd a sunk 'em, too."
There once was a little ship, and she sailed on the sea,
And the name they gave to her was the Golden Merrilee,
As she sailed on the lo on the lo li lo,
As she sailed on the lonesome sea.
She hadn't been at sea more than two weeks or three
Before she did come to the Turkish Revillee
As she sailed on the lo on the lo li lo,
As she sailed on the lonesome sea.
Out ran the little cabin boy saying, "Captain, oh Captain,
Now we'll soon have a Turk,"
As they sailed on the lo on the lo li lo,
As they sailed on the lonesome sea.
"Captain, of captain, what will you give to me,
. . . . .
If I sink them in the lo in the lo li lo,
If I sink them in the lonesome sea?"
"I have gold and silver, too, likewise a lovely daughter
That I will marry unto thee
If you'll sink them in the lo in the lo li lo,
If you'll sink them in the lonesome sea."
He bowed his breast and he swam through the sea
Until he did become to the Turkish Revillee,
As they sailed on the lo on the lo li lo,
As they sailed on the lonesome sea.
He had an instrument which was for the use,
And he bored nine holes all in the hull at once.
And he sank them in the lo in the lo li lo,
And he sank them in the lonesome sea.
He bowed his breast and swam through the sea
Until he did come to the Golden Merrilee,
As they sailed on the lo on the lo li lo,
As they sailed on the lonesome sea.
"Captain, oh Captain, you know what you promised me
Gold and silver, likewise a lovely daughter
If I sank them in the lo in the lo li lo,
If I sank them in the lonesome sea."
"I have gold and silver, too, likewise a lovely daughter
I shan't marry unto you;
And I'll leave you in the lo in the lo li lo,
And I'll leave you in the lonesome sea."
"If it weren't for the love that I have for your men,
I'd do unto you as I did unto them;
And I'd sink you in the lo in the lo li lo,
And I'd sink you in the lonesome sea."
He turned upon his back and he looked to the sky,
. . . .
And he sank in the lo in the lo li lo,
And he sank in the lonesome sea.