Traditional & Folk Songs with lyrics & midi music www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
The Lowdown Lonesome Low 
The Lowdown Lonesome Low 
O Captain, O captain, what will you give me If I sink for you the Turkey Reveille As she sails in the low-down
 Low-down, low-down Sails in the low-down, lonesome low. 
Gold and silver, shining so bright And my fairest daughter will wed you tonight If you sink her etc. 
Then he bared his breast and he swam on the sea Till he came along by the Turkey Reveille As she sailed etc. 
Some with their cards and some with their dice And some were taking their best friend's advice As she rowed etc. Then he bared his breast and he swam the tide And bored ten holes in the old ship's side And she sank etc. 
Some with their hats and some with their caps Were trying to stop them salt-water gaps As she sailed etc. 
Then he bared his breast and he swam in the tide Until he came along by his own ship's side As she rolled etc. 
Captain, O captain, take me on board For if you don't you have forfeited your word As you sail etc. 
Sailor boy, sailor boy, don't appeal to me For you drowned fifty souls when you sank the Reveille As she sailed etc. If it wasn't for the love that I have for your men I would serve you the same as I served them As you sail etc. 
Then he hoisted his sails and away sailed he 
And he left the poor sailor boy to drown in the sea To drown etc. 
So he bared his breast and down swam he He swam till he came to the bottom of the sea And he drowned in the low-down
 Low-down, low-down
 Drowned in the low-down lonesome low. 
From Our Singing Country, John A and Alan Lomax Child #286