Gold China Tree- Ferrell (TN) 1963 Wolfe
[From: The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection. One of the few versions with a happy ending.]
GOLD CHINA TREE- Sung by: James Clifton Ferrell; Recorded in Memphis, TN 6/30/63 by John Quincy Wolf, Jr.
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There was a ship in the north country,
And the name of the ship was the Gold China Tree,
A-sailing in the lowland, lowland sea.
She had not sailed past league two or three
Before the captain spied a French galley,
A-sailing in the low, and the lonesome low,
A-sailing in the lowland sea.
The captain came to the master on the run,
Saying, "Master, oh master, we're all undone."
A-sailing in the lowland sea.
The cabin boy spoke, "What will you give me
If I will sink that French galley?
I'll sink them in the low, and the lonesome low,
I'll sink them in the lowland sea."
"I'll give you gold and I'll give you a fee,
And my eldest daughter your bride shall be,
If you'll sink them in the lowland sea."
He jumped overboard and away swum he,
'Til he came to the side of the French galley,
To sink them in the low, and the lonesome low,
To sink them in the lowland sea.
He had a little augur just fitted for the work,
And he bored nine holes, and he bored them in a jerk,
To sink them in the lowland sea.
There were some with their hats
And some with their caps,
Trying to stop those salty water gaps.
They were sinking in the low, and the lonesome low;
They were sinking in the lowland sea.
He turned around, and away swum he
'Til he came to the side of the Gold China Tree,
A-swimming in the lowland sea.
He said to the master, "Will you throw a rope to me?"
"Not if you demand the gold as part of the fee.
I'll drop you in the low, and the lonesome low,
I'll drown you in the lowland sea."
"If it wasn't for your daughter,
And it wasn't for your men,
I would serve you as I just served them.
I'd sink you in the lowland sea."
They threw out a rope where he could see,
For him to climb aboard the Gold China Tree,
For he had sunk them in the low, and the lonesome low,
He had sunk them in the lowland sea.
"I don't want your gold, nor either your fee,
But your eldest daughter my bride shall be,"
Sailing in the lowland sea.
He married the daughter in spite of them all.
May the Devil take the captain, the sailors and all,
Sailing in the low, and the lonesome low,
Sailing in the lowland sea.