The Merry Golden Tree
from The Shovel Dance by Shovel Dance Collective
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Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Purchasable with gift cardDownload available in 24-bit/44.1kHz.
$1 USD or more
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Buy the Full Digital Album
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Record/Vinyl + Digital AlbumIncludes insert and printed paper sleeve
Includes unlimited streaming of The Shovel Dance via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Download available in 24-bit/44.1kHz.ships out within 7 daysPurchasable with gift card$23.99 USD or more
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Record/Vinyl + Digital AlbumCreamy and slightly transparent vinyl. Includes insert and printed paper sleeve.
Includes unlimited streaming of The Shovel Dance via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Download available in 24-bit/44.1kHz.ships out within 7 daysPurchasable with gift card$28.99 USD or more
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Record/Vinyl + Digital AlbumRed Vinyl. Includes insert and printed paper sleeve.
Includes unlimited streaming of The Shovel Dance via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Download available in 24-bit/44.1kHz.ships out within 7 daysPurchasable with gift card$28.99 USD or more
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lyrics
There was a little ship and it sailed on the sea
The name of the ship was the merry golden tree
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Sailing on the lonely lowland sea
They hadn’t been out scarce two days or three
Until they sighted the British Robbery
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
Up jumped the captain a ringing of his hands
He cried “Oh Lord now what shall we do?
They’ll sink is in the low and the lonesome low
They’ll sink us to the bottom of the lowland sea”
Up and spoke the little cabin boy
Saying “what will you give me if I then destroy?
If I sink ‘em in the low and the lonesome low,
Sink ‘em to the bottom of the lowland sea”
“Well I’ll give you gold and I’ll pay you fee,
My youngest daughter and she will marry thee,
If you sink ‘em in the low and the lonesome low,
Sink ‘em to the bottom of the lowland sea”
So he turned on his back and away swam he
Until he came to the British Robbery
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
Where some was playing cards and some were at the dice
And some were taking taking their best friends advice
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
He had a little tool just right for the use,
He bore nine holes just to let in the juice,
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
Well some threw their hats and some threw their caps,
But they could not stop those salt water gaps,
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
Well he turned on his back and away swam he
Until he came to the Merry Golden Tree
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Sailing on the lonely lowland sea
“Captain oh captain take me onboard,
You’ll do unto me just as good as your word,
For I sank ‘em in the low and the lonesome low,
I sank ‘em to the bottom of the lowland sea.”
“I’ll not pay you gold nor yet pay your fee,
My youngest daughter she’ll never marry thee,
I’ll sink you in the low and the lonesome low,
Leave you to drown in the lowland sea.”
“If it wasn’t for your daughter nor yet for your men
I’d do unto you just as I did to them,
I’d sink you in the low and the lonesome low,
Sink you to the bottom of the lowland sea’
But he turned on his back and away swam he,
“Farewell to you, you Merry Golden Tree,
I’m drowning in the low and the lonesome low,
I’m drowning in the lonely lowland sea.”
The name of the ship was the merry golden tree
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Sailing on the lonely lowland sea
They hadn’t been out scarce two days or three
Until they sighted the British Robbery
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
Up jumped the captain a ringing of his hands
He cried “Oh Lord now what shall we do?
They’ll sink is in the low and the lonesome low
They’ll sink us to the bottom of the lowland sea”
Up and spoke the little cabin boy
Saying “what will you give me if I then destroy?
If I sink ‘em in the low and the lonesome low,
Sink ‘em to the bottom of the lowland sea”
“Well I’ll give you gold and I’ll pay you fee,
My youngest daughter and she will marry thee,
If you sink ‘em in the low and the lonesome low,
Sink ‘em to the bottom of the lowland sea”
So he turned on his back and away swam he
Until he came to the British Robbery
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
Where some was playing cards and some were at the dice
And some were taking taking their best friends advice
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
He had a little tool just right for the use,
He bore nine holes just to let in the juice,
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
Well some threw their hats and some threw their caps,
But they could not stop those salt water gaps,
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Flaunting the Jolly Roger on the lowland sea
Well he turned on his back and away swam he
Until he came to the Merry Golden Tree
Sailing on the low and lonesome low
Sailing on the lonely lowland sea
“Captain oh captain take me onboard,
You’ll do unto me just as good as your word,
For I sank ‘em in the low and the lonesome low,
I sank ‘em to the bottom of the lowland sea.”
“I’ll not pay you gold nor yet pay your fee,
My youngest daughter she’ll never marry thee,
I’ll sink you in the low and the lonesome low,
Leave you to drown in the lowland sea.”
“If it wasn’t for your daughter nor yet for your men
I’d do unto you just as I did to them,
I’d sink you in the low and the lonesome low,
Sink you to the bottom of the lowland sea’
But he turned on his back and away swam he,
“Farewell to you, you Merry Golden Tree,
I’m drowning in the low and the lonesome low,
I’m drowning in the lonely lowland sea.”
credits
from The Shovel Dance,
released October 11, 2024
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Shovel Dance Collective London, UK
United by a passion for traditional music not as a historical artifact, but as a communal activity - inviting to those it speaks to. A musique boue, a patchwork stitched together and rearranged, holding the voices of the oppressed and those who, by their labour, create the wealth of the world. Photos by Brad Gilbert and Wolfram Vandenbergen ... more
discography
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Oct 2024 -
Apr 2024 -
Dec 2022 -
Apr 2021 -
Mar 2020
contact / help
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