The Golden Vanity- Clark (ON) pre1965 Fowke
[From A Family Heritage: The Story and Songs of LaRena Clark, page 42 by Edith Fowke and Jay Rahn, 1994. Fowke listed this ballad in Clark's repertoire as early as 1965. It was learned from her grandfather Watson and is part of a large group of songs learned from her family on both sides. LaRena was born in 1917 near Pefferlaw, Ontario so the song probably dates back to before 1937 when her family moved from Ontario.
As far as I know the ship named "Turkish Commune" is unique.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Golden Vanity
1. There was a rich merchant ship in North Americay,
The name of the ship was the Golden Vanity,
It was said to be taken by the Turkish Commune
And sank in the lowlands, lowlands,
And sank in the the lowlands low.
2. First to come on board was a little cabin boy,
Saying, "Captain, what will you give me if yon ship I destroy?"
"Gold I will give you and my daughter for your bride,
If you'll sink her in the lowlands lowlands,
If you'll sink her in the lowlands low?"
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