Sinking in the Lonesome Sea- Carter Family (VA) 1935 REC
[The Carter Family recorded this in 1935 for ARC in New York City. It was first recorded in 1925 by Kentucky musician Welby Toomey. The influence of the Carter Family recording is considerable considering Pete Seeger (with the Almanac Singers -Woody Guthrie and all, first recorded in 1941) based his version on the Carter Family.
Since the Carter's version does not have a verse about the boy sinking the ship which should be the 5th verse, this was added by Seeger and others, still keeping the Carter's refrain.
R. Matteson Jr. 2014]
"Sinking in the Lonesome Sea"- Carter Family (VA) 1935 REC
Listen to: The Carter Family- Sinking in the Lonesome Sea;
There was a little ship
And it sailed upon the sea
And she went by the name of the Merry Golden Tree
And she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
And she sailed upon the lonesome sea
There was a little sailor
Unto his captain said
Oh captain captain what'll you give to me
If I sink them in the low and lonesome low
If I sink them in the lonesome sea
Two hundred dollars
I will give unto thee
And my oldest daughter I will wed unto you
If you sink them in the low and lonesome low
If you sink them in the lonesome sea
He bowed upon his breast
And away swim he
Till he came the ship of the Turkish Reveille
As she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
As she sailed upon the lonesome sea
If it wasn't for the love
Of your daughter and your men
I would do unto you as I did unto them
I would sink you in the low and lonesome low
I would sink you in the lonesome sea
He bowed his head
And down sank he
Farewell farewell to the Merry Golden Tree
For I'm sinking in the low and lonesome low
For I'm sinking in the lonesome sea