"Golden Vanity, The"

Surely this has been among the most widespread, long lasting and oldest English folk songs.

No better metaphor for the Ship of State than a ship at sea; where no worse human ‘conditions of state’ existed (excluding chattel slavery) for a very long time.

Here, the lowest of the lowest of the low; the cabin boy, takes on ‘Vanity’s salvation,’ spurred by oaths from the Captain, witnessed by all, that that if the boy succeeds, he becomes (and really has been all along) an equal.

Upon success, the exhaust boy begs from the water, while the Captain scorns him from high. What is that conversation?

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Button above: Thanks to Jacob Haller of Providence RI.

Key: A, as Written.

“Child No. 286” on the song sheet refers a collection of early English songs compiled by Harvard Professor Francis James Child (1825-1896) which is regarded as a seminal work, Early English songs, The English and Scottish Ballads.

John Scott

See Notes