Sinking in the Lonesome Sea is the Carter's 1935 version of "The Golden Willow Tree" or "Lowlands Low" which is the English ballad "The Golden Vanity" Child 286. The song dates back to a 1685 broadside.

No sense going into the history or details here. There's info in the DT.


SINKING IN THE LONESOME SEA- Carter Family 1935

There was a little ship and it sailed upon the sea
And she went by the name of the Merry Golden Tree

    As she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
    As she sailed upon the lonesome sea

There was a little sailor unto his captain said
Oh, Captain, Captain, what'll you give to me

    If I sink her in the low and lonesome low
    If I sink her in the lonesome sea

500 Dollars I'll give unto thee
And my oldest daughter I'll wed unto thee

    If you'll sink her in the low and lonesome low
    If you'll sink her in the lonesome sea

He bowed his head and away swam he
Till he come to the ship called the Turkish Reveille

    And she sanken in the low and lonesome low
    She sanken in the lonesome sea

If it wasn't for the love of your daughter and your men
I would do unto you as I did unto them

    I would sink you in the low and lonesome low
    I would sink you in the lonesome sea