There was a little ship that sailed on the sea
And the name of the ship was the Golden Willow Tree
And she sailed on the low and lonesome water
And she sailed on the lonesome sea


Up stepped a little sailor, saying "What'll you give to me
If sink that ship to the bottom of the sea
If sank her in the low and lonesome water
If I sank her in the lonesome sea"


"Well I have a house and I have land
And I have a daughter who shall be at your command
If you'll sink her in the low and lonesome water
If you'll sink her in the lonesome sea"


He bowed on his breast and away swam he
And he swam 'til he came to the Turkish Reveille
As she sailed on the low and lonesome water
As she sailed in the lonesome sea

He had a little auger fit for the bore
And he bored nine holes in the bottom of the floor
And sunk her in the low and lonesome water
And he sunk her in the lonesome sea

Some had hats and some were using caps
A-trying to stop the saltwater gaps
As she sunk in the low and lonesome water
As she sunk in the lonesome sea

Some were playing cards, some were shooting dice
While others stood around just a-giving good advice
As she sunk in the low and lonesome water
As she sunk in the lonesome sea

He bowed on his breast and away swam he
And he swam 'til he came to the Golden Willow Tree
"Now I've sunk her in the low and lonesome water
Now I've sunk her in the lonesome sea

"Now, Captain will be you be as good as your word
Or either will you take me in on board
Now I've sunk her in the low and lonesome water
Now I've sunk her in the lonesome sea"

"I will not be as good as my word
Nor neither will I take you in onboard
Though you've sunk her in the low and lonesome water
Though you've sunk her in the lonesome sea"

"If it weren't for the love I have for your men
I would do unto you just as I've done unto them
I would sink you in the low and lonesome water
I would sink you in the lonesome sea"

He bowed on his breast and down sunk he
A-bidding farewell to the Golden Willow Tree
He sunk in the low and lonesome water
He sunk in the lonesome sea