Lowlands of Holland- Lassiter (TN) 1898 McDowell
[From Memory Melodies- A Collection of Folk-Songs from Middle Tennessee- McDowell; 1947. Flora Lassiter born circa 1890, married Lucien McDowell (b. 1884), both are from musical families. She is called Mrs. L.L. McDowell in the book. The books notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
Remembered, both words and melody, by Mrs. L.L.McDowell from the singing of her mother, Catherine Parker Lassiter. Mrs. McDowell could not, at first, make sure of the source, so early in infancy was the memory; until Mrs. Lassiter herself told her. Very few living people have ever heard the song.
THE LOWLANDS OF HOLLAND- Words and melody, by Mrs. L. L. McDowell from the singing of her mother, Catherine Parker Lassiter.
1. The night that I was married and we were lying a bed,
There came a sturdy captain and stood at my bed head,
Saying; "Rise up, William Riley, and come along with me
To the lowlands of Holland to fight the en-e-my.
2. Low Holland is a pretty little place, but, it grows no green
And there's no harboring place for my love to remain:
No sugar grapes are plenty; no vine grows 'round the tree;
Since the low lands of Holland have parted my love and me.
3. Said the mother to her daughter, "Why do you so lament?"
"Are there not, other men enough to pass your heart's content?"
Said the daughter to her mother, "Don't talk that way to me,
Since the low lands of Holland have parted my love and me."
4. "There'll be no sash go round my waist; no ribbon in my hair,
Nor firelight nor candlelight shall show my beauty fair;
And no ne'er will I be married until the day I die,
Since the low lands of Holland have parted my love and me.