The Green Willow Tree- Thornton (WV) 1916 Cox B
[From Cox; Folk-Songs of the South- 1925. Like version A, this certainly dates back a ways- many years before 1916.]
32. THE SWEET TRINITY (THE GOLDEN VANITY) (Child, No. 286)
This ballad is known in West Virginia as "The Green Willow Tree" and "The Golden Willow Tree." Two variants of the former have been found, practically identical, with the exception that the second has been localized in "North America." A single stanza only under the second title has been recovered. They are very similar to Child C. A and C were reported by Cox, xlv, 160 (Journal, xxix, 400).
For American texts see Journal, xvni, 125 (Barry; Vermont); xxin, 429 (Belden; Missouri); xxx, 331 (Kittredge, from Belden; Missouri); Focus, tv, 158 (Virginia); Wyman and Brockway, p. 72 (Kentucky); McGill, p. 96 (Kentucky); Shoemaker, p. in (Pennsylvania); Campbell and Sharp, No. 35 (North Carolina) ; Pound, No. 10 (Nebraska); Minish MS. (North Carolina);
Singer's Journal, 11, 686. For references see Journal, xxx, 330. Add Bulletin, Nos. 8-10. A fragment of the ballad, combined with an additional stanza of a comic character, has been popular as a college song: Waite, Carmina Colligensia (Boston, cop. 1868), p. 171; The American College Songster (Ann Arbor, 1876), p. 101; White, Student Life in Song (Boston, cop. 1879), p. 58.[From Cox; Folk-Songs of the South- 1925. This certainly dates back a ways- many years before 1916. Traveler would need to be travelee to rhyme.]
32. THE SWEET TRINITY (THE GOLDEN VANITY) (Child, No. 286)
This ballad is known in West Virginia as "The Green Willow Tree" and "The Golden Willow Tree." Two variants of the former have been found, practically identical, with the exception that the second has been localized in "North America." A single stanza only under the second title has been recovered. They are very similar to Child C. A and C were reported by Cox, xlv, 160 (Journal, xxix, 400).
For American texts see Journal, XVIII, 125 (Barry; Vermont); XXIII, 429 (Belden; Missouri); xxx, 331 (Kittredge, from Belden; Missouri); Focus, tv, 158 (Virginia); Wyman and Brockway, p. 72 (Kentucky); McGill, p. 96 (Kentucky); Shoemaker, p. in (Pennsylvania); Campbell and Sharp, No. 35 (North Carolina) ; Pound, No. 10 (Nebraska); Minish MS. (North Carolina);
Singer's Journal, 11, 686. For references see Journal, xxx, 330. Add Bulletin, Nos. 8-10. A fragment of the ballad, combined with an additional stanza of a comic character, has been popular as a college song: Waite, Carmina Colligensia (Boston, cop. 1868), p. 171; The American College Songster (Ann Arbor, 1876), p. 101; White, Student Life in Song (Boston, cop. 1879), p. 58.
B. "The Green Willow Tree." Communicated by Miss Iva Thornton, Branchland, Lincoln County, August 31, 1916; obtained from Parker Lucas, a blind man, who learned it when he was a boy from J. W. Adkins, his sister's husband.
1 There was a ship a-sailing off North America,
Crying, O, 't is lonesome in the Lowlands low
There was a ship a-sailing off North America,
And she went by the name of the Green Willow Tree.
As we 're sailing in the Lowlands low
2 She had n't been on sea for more than weeks three,
Until she was overtaken by the Turkish Revelee [or Turkey Sweveltee].
3 Up spoke the Captain, saying, "Who will it be,
To go and destroy the Turkish Revelee?"
4 Up steps the cabin-boy, saying, "What will you give me,
If I overtake her and destroy all her crew?"
5 "I will give you gold and I will give you fee,
Likewise, my eldest daughter your wedded bride shall be."
6 He fell upon his breast and away swam he,
He swam till he came to the Turkish Revelee.
7 He had a tool just fitted for the use,
He bored in a hole and let in a sluice.
8 Some were playing cards and some were playing checks,
And the first thing they knew they were in water to their necks.
9 He fell upon his breast and away swam he,
Swam till he came to the Green Willow Tree.
10 Saying, "Captain, O Captain, won't you take me on board,
And be as good to me as your word?"
11 "Oh no, sir, oh no, sir, not take you on board,
Nor be as good to you as my word."
12 He fell upon his breast and down sank he,
Bidding adieu to the Green Willow Tree.