US & Canada Versions: 92A. The Lowlands of Holland
[The ballad first appeared in the North America under the title, "The Young Woman's Lamentation" from Thomas Fanning's notebook, dated 1779-1780:
The Young Woman's Lamentation- c.1780 from Thomas Fanning's notebook (spelling corrected)
I'd scarcely got into my bed, I'd scarcely got to sleep
There came a noble captain and stood at my bed feet
Saying, "Arise my fair one and go along with me
To the lowlands of Holland to fight in Germany."
I got a noble fine ship a ship prepared for sea
And four and twenty mariners to bear the ship away
They sailed into Holland as I heard that some say
In the lowlands of Holland the ship was cast away
"No clothes shall go upon my back, no comb go through my hair
No fire light nor candle light shall ever light me there
Nor never will I married be until the day I die
Since the lowlands of Holland parted my love and I."
"Oh what matter, daughter, that you do thus lament
Is there not lads in Galloway to give your heart content?"
"If there is lads in Galloway, I'm sure there is none for me
I never had but one true love and he is drowned in the sea."
Versions have been collected in Maine (Eckstorm, 1914; Grover 1941), in Virginia (Sharp, 1918), in Missouri/Arkansas (Randolph, 1920, A and B) in Kentucky (Combs, 1925) and more recently Newfoundland (MacEdward Leach- 1951) Tennessee (Burton/Manning) and West Virginia (Bush II). Several versions have been recorded, including Grover- 1941 and Graham- 1938.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
CONTENTS: (To access individual version click on the highlighted title below or on the title attached to this page on the left-hand column)
1) Young Woman's Lamentation- (CT) 1780 Fanning
2) John Ross- Golden (ME) c.1894 Eckstorm
3) Lowlands of Holland- Lassiter (TN) 1898 McDowell
4) Lowlands- Murray (ME) 1914 Hardy/Eckstorm/Gray
Soldier Bride's Lament- Combs (KY) pre1925 Combs
Lily of Arkansas- Stephens (MO) 1928 Randolph A
Lowlands of Missouri- Dusenbury (AR) 1928 Rand B
Lowlands of Holland- Graham (CA) 1938 Cowell REC
Lowlands of Holland- Grover (ME) pre1941 Lomax
The Lowlands Of Holland- Curtis (NL) 1951 Leach
Jolly Sailor- Winters (TN) 1966 Burton/Manning
Lowlands of Holland- Shinn (WV) pre1970 Bush
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The British Traditional Ballad in North America; Coffin 1950 edition
92. BONNY BEE HOM
SharpK, Eng F-S So Aplchns, I, 200 refers his readers to this ballad in connection with his version of The Lowlands of Holland. See also Combs, F-S Etats-Unis, 173 and Gray, Sgs Blds Me Lmbjks, 88. Also, check Child, II, 317 (headnote) where similarities of certain stanzas in the two songs is noted.
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Missing versions: The Lowlands O Holland, Ballads migrant in New England, by the collectors, Helen Hartness Flanders and Marguerite Olney, 1953.