Lowlands Away

Traditional

A dollar an’ a half a day is a black man's pay,
Lowlands, Lowlands away my John!
I thought I heard our Old Man say,
My Dollar an’ a half a day.

 A white man’s pay is rather high.
Lowlands, Lowlands away my John!
A black man’s pay is rather low,
My Dollar an’ a half a day.

A dollar an’ a half a day is Matlow’s pay,
Lowlands, Lowlands away my John!
A dollar an’ a half a day won’t pay my way.
My Dollar an’ a half a day.

 Packed me bag an’ I’m bound away,
Lowlands, Lowlands away my John!
I’m bound away for Mobile Bay

 My Dollar an’ a half a day.

We’re bound away for Mobile Bay,
Lowlands, Lowlands away my John!
We’re bound away at the break o’ day.
 My Dollar an’ a half a day.

Oh, say wuz ye never down in Mobile Bay?
Lowlands, Lowlands away my John!
A-screwin’ cotton all the day.
My Dollar an’ a half, a day.

Oh, me poor ol’ mother, oh, she wrote to me,
Lowlands, Lowlands away my John!
She wrote to me to come home from sea.
My Dollar an’ a half, a day.

We’ll heave ‘er up from down below

Lowlands, Lowlands away my John!
Oh, heave ‘er up an’ away we’ll go!
My Dollar an’ a half, a day.

I’d stand ye drinks three times a day,
Lowlands, Lowlands away my John!
An’ feel ye well am’ raise yer pay.             

My Dollar an’ a half a day.