There was a lofty ship, and she put out to sea
And the name of this ship was the Golden Vanity
And she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
And she sailed upon the lonesome sea

She had not been out but two weeks or three
When she was overtaken by a Turkish Reveley
And she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
And she sailed upon the lonesome sea

Then up spake our little cabin boy
Saying, ""What will you give me if I will them destroy
If I sink them in the low and lonesome low
If I sink them in the lonesome sea?""

""Oh, the man that them destroys"" Our captain then replied
""Five thousand pounds, and my daughter for his bride
If he sinks them in the low and lonesome low
If he sinks them in the lonesome sea!""

So the boy smote his breast And down jumped he
He swum till he come to the Golden Reveley
As she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
As she sailed upon the lonesome sea

He had a little tool That was made for the use
He bore nine holes in her hull all at once
And he sunk her in the low and lonesome low
And he sunk her in the lonesome sea

Then he swum back to his ship and he beat upon the side
Cried, ""Captain, pick me up, for I'm wearied with the tide
And I'm sinkin' in the low and lonesome low
And I'm sinkin' in the lonesome sea!""

""Oh, I will not pick you up"" The captain then replied
""I'll shoot you, I'll drown you, I'll sink you in the tide
I'll sink you in the low and lonesome low
I'll sink you in the lonesome sea!""

Copyright: BMG Rights Management
Writer(s): Woody Guthrie