Lowlands Away
Nils Brown Sean Dagher Clayton Kennedy Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I dreamed a dream the other night.
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
My love she came, dressed all in white.
Lowlands away.

I Dreamed my love came in my sleep.
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
Her cheeks were wet, her eyes did weep .
Lowlands away.

She came to me at my bedside.
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
All dressed in white, like some fair bride.
Lowlands away.

And bravely in her bossom fair.
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
Her red, red rose, my love did wear.
Lowlands away.

She made no sound, no word she said.
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
And then i knew my love was dead.
Lowlands away.

Then i awoke to hear the cry.
Lowlands, Lowlands away me John.
Oh watch on deck.




Oh watch, ahoy.
Lowlands away.

Overall Meaning

The song "Lowlands Away" is a traditional Scottish folk song that talks about a dream that the singer had about their love. In the dream, the singer's love appeared dressed all in white, a traditional color for a bride. However, her cheeks were wet with tears and her eyes were weeping, which suggests that there is something tragic about this dream. The dream is a symbol of the singer's love and their longing for her.


As the dream progresses, the singer's love comes to them at their bedside dressed like a bride carrying a red rose in her bosom, which is a powerful symbol of love and passion. However, the singer's love does not speak and makes no sound, which suggests that she is not alive. The last line of the dream suggests that the singer has realized that his love is dead. This realization is followed by the sound of a cry, which may be a reference to a sailor's shout on deck.


One interesting fact about the song "Lowlands Away" is that it was a popular sea shanty sung by sailors when they were working on deck. Another interesting fact is that the song has been covered by many famous musicians over the years, including Johnny Cash and Emmylou Harris. The song's melody has also been used in other songs, such as "The Leaving of Liverpool" and "Spanish Ladies". The lyrics to the song have been adapted and changed over time, but the basic story has remained the same.


Line by Line Meaning

I dreamed a dream the other night.
In my sleep, I had a dream


Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
I longed to go to the lowlands


My love she came, dressed all in white.
In my dream, my beloved came in white clothing


Lowlands away.
I want to be in the lowlands


She came to me at my bedside.
In my dream, she approached me in my sleep


Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
I want to go to the lowlands


All dressed in white, like some fair bride.
She was clothed in white attire, like a beautiful bride


Lowlands away.
I yearn to be in the lowlands


And bravely in her bossom fair.
Courageously, she had a red rose in her bosom


Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
I want to go to the lowlands


Her red, red rose, my love did wear.
My love had a red rose, which she wore proudly


Lowlands away.
I desire to be in the lowlands


She made no sound, no word she said.
Without speaking or making any noise, she communicated her message


Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
I yearn to journey to the lowlands


And then i knew my love was dead.
I realized that my beloved was no longer living


Lowlands away.
I want to be in the lowlands


Then i awoke to hear the cry.
I awoke and heard the shouting


Lowlands, Lowlands away me John.
I want to journey to the lowlands


Oh watch on deck.
There is someone on the lookout


Oh watch, ahoy.
They are shouting to others on the ship


Lowlands away.
I desire to travel to the lowlands




Contributed by Camilla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Gobbernaught

I dreamed a dream the other night
Lowlands, lowlands away me John!
My love she came dressed all in white
Lowlands away

I dreamed my love came in my sleep
Lowlands, lowlands away me John!
Her cheeks wer wet, her eyes did weep
Lowlands away

She came to me at my bedside
Lowlands, lowlands away me John!
All dressed in white, like some fair bride
Lowlands away

And bravely in her bosom fair
Lowlands, lowlands away me John!
A red red rose, my love did wear
Lowlands away

She made no sound, no word she said
Lowlands, lowlands away me John!
And then I knew my love was dead
Lowlands away

Then I awoke to hear the cry
Lowlands, lowlands away me John!
Oh watch on deck, oh watch ahoy
Lowlands away



All comments from YouTube:

@maikonplay1

I love the fact that Edward chose this song to be the password to the secret chamber in the Ac syndicate

@c00kie_monstr

Ik I think that it reminds Edward about his wife

@billybear2333

Im playing syndicate atm and noticed that when I did that mission it made me smile :)

@andymcgowan7384

It's those little details that link the whole series together that make me love AC so much.

@ethanschmid4104

I remember playing that part with my younger brother. When we saw the Jackdaw’s wheel, I said to my brother, “Steer that wheel one last time for her, man.” The best part of that game. Black Flag was the best game in the franchise!!!

@jasikblack4810

Absolutely my favorite game in the franchise and this is my favorite song I will stop before docking just to finish this song

22 More Replies...

@sitr2516

As a former sailor this song means a lot to me. For those of you that don't understand. "lowlands away" would have been an announcement made that land was sighted. When you are out on the open ocean land seems to appear all of a sudden and especially back in the day would have been announced to the entire crew, probably being yelled by someone whose job it was to stand watch for such things. "John" would have been a word used to indicate the Bowson, or perhaps the officer of the watch. This individual singing the song is asleep and dreaming while this announcement is being made over and over again. As with most dreams it takes your existing environment and mixes it with the dream. While the announcement is being made over and over again he dreams of his wife/girlfriend on land. It seems as though He made some sort of promise to return to her etc. And right before he arrived back home she died. I suspect the land they are coming back to and the "lowlands away" announcement is being made for, is probably their home port. He just missed her. Very powerful and emotional song. amazing.

@bananabreadguy7960

Thank you for sharing. Your words makes this song more a bit special. For me atleast.

@mr.rocket5835

So is that why many Black Flag shanties have “Johnny” or “John” in them?

@miguelsanchez-ir7do

Ex sailor too I was 18 when I played this game inbetween two carribean trips

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