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Wiltshire Community History

Folk Song Information

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Book Title

Author

Date

Notes

Song Title	Down in the lowlands low
Roud No.	182
Collected From	Sawyer, David [Phoebus]
Location	Ogbourne St. Andrew
County	Wiltshire
Collected By	Williams, Alfred
Alternative Title
Tune
Date
Source Primary	WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 4 - Wiltshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Wt 441
Source Secondary	Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 25th December, 1915, p 2, Part 11, No. 2
Recording

Song Lyrics
Verse 1 Young Emma was a servant maid and loved a sailor bold, Who ploughed the main, much gold to gain, for his love, as I've been told. On board the jolly merchantman he sailed up and down, And went upon a man-o'-war a-fighting for the Crown. Verse 2 Now seven long years were ended since he sailed on the foam, And when seven years were ended young Edwin he came home; He went unto his Emma's house the gold to her to show, That he gained upon the main and about the lowlands low. Verse 3 Emma's father kept a public inn that stood down by the sea, Says Emma, "You can enter in and here this night can be: I'll meet you in the morning, don't let my parents know, That your name it is young Edwin that ploughs the lowlands low." Verse 4 Young Edwin he sat drinking till 'twas time to go to bed, But little was he thinking what sorrows crowned his head. Said Emma's cruel father - "This gold will make a show, And we'll send his body sinking down in the lowlands low." Verse 5 As Emma on her pillow lay she had a frightful dream, She thought she saw his body laid down by a crystal stream. Then she arose, put on her clothes, and to her friends did go, Because she loved him dearly that ploughed the lowlands low. Verse 6 "Oh mother! where is the stranger that came here last night to lay?" "He's dead and still, no tales to tell," her father then did say. "Oh father! cruel father! You'll die a public show, For murdering my Edwin down in the lowlands low."

Print Song Lyrics

Notes
Note 1 Williams, Alfred: Ms / WGS: 'An old broadside ballad, one of a type formerly common and popular. Obtained of David Sawyer.' Note 2 In Verse 1 Line 4 the original text was: And went upon a man-of-war a-fighting for the Crown. Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2010.