The Little Ship

Cat. #0595 (MFH #623) - As sung by Diana Haney, Huntsville, Arkansas on July 5, 1961

VERSE 1
There was a little ship
And it sailed upon the sea
And it went by th name
Of th Merry Golden Tree
As it sailed upon th lonesome, lonsome low
As it sailed upon th lonesome sea

VERSE 2
She didn't sail east
She didn't sail west
But she sailed to th south
In a very quiet sea
As she sailed upon th lonesome, lonesome low
As she sailed upon th lonesome sea

VERSE 3
She hoist her sails
And away sailed she
And she sailed till she came
To th Turkish Swivel Lee
As they sailed upon th lonesome, lonesome low
As she sailed upon th lonesome sea

VERSE 4
Th Captain of th ship
Cried, we'll surely have a wreck
Th Captain cried,
We'll surely have a wreck
If we sail upon th lonesome, lonesome low
If we sail upon th lonesome sea

VERSE 5
A little cabin boy
That run along th deck
Cried, Captain, O Captain
What'll ya give me
If I sink 'er in th lonesome, lonesome low
If I sink 'er in th lonesome sea

VERSE 6
I'll give you money
And I'll give you fee
And I have a loving daughter
I'll marry unto thee
If you'll sink 'er in th lonesome, lonesome low
If you'll sink 'er in th lonesome sea

VERSE 7
He fell upon his breast
An' away swam he
An' he swam till he came
To th Turkish Swivel Lee
As she sailed upon th lonesome, lonesome low
As she sailed upon th lonesome sea

VERSE 8
He had a little tool
All made for th use
An' he bored nine holes
All in th hull at once
An' he sank 'er in th lonesome, lonesome, low
An' he sank 'er in th lonesome sea

VERSE 9
He fell upon his breast
An' back swam he
Crying, Captain, O Captain,
Won't ya save me
As they sailed upon th lonesome, lonesome low
As they sailed upon th lonesome sea

VERSE 10
I'll not give you money
And I'll not give you fee
And I'll not be as good
As I promised unto thee
But, I'll leave you in th lonesome, lonesome low
But, I'll leave you in th lonesome sea

VERSE 11
He fell upon his breast
An' down sank he
As he bid a farewell
To th Merry Golden Tree
And they left 'im in th lonesome, lonesome low
And they left him in th lonesome sea

Variants