Lowlands Away
Nils Brown feat. Sean Dagher & Clayton Kennedy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 .
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.
The song "Lowlands Away" is a traditional sea shanty that tells the story of a sailor who dreams about seeing his deceased lover. The first stanza begins with the sailor dreaming about his lover coming to him dressed in white. The second stanza continues with the sailor describing his lover's appearance as she came to him in his sleep, with tears in her eyes. In the third stanza, the sailor describes his lover standing at his bedside, dressed in white like a bride. In the fourth stanza, the sailor notes the red rose his love is wearing over her heart. In the final stanza, the sailor is awakened to the sound of the cry that the watch on deck has spotted land, calling for the crew to get ready to lower the sails.
Line by Line Meaning
I dreamed a dream the other night.
I saw a dream last night.
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
I wish to go away to the lowlands, John.
My love she came, dressed all in white.
I dreamt that my lover, dressed in white, came to me.
Lowlands away.
I want to leave for the lowlands.
She came to me at my bedside.
She appeared next to my bed.
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
I yearn to go to the lowlands, John.
All dressed in white, like some fair bride.
She wore a white dress, like a beautiful bride.
Lowlands away.
Please, take me to the lowlands.
And bravely in her bossom fair.
She held a red rose to her chest.
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
I wish to depart for the lowlands, John.
Her red, red rose, my love did wear.
She wore a red rose, symbolizing our love.
Lowlands away.
Take me away to the lowlands.
She made no sound, no word she said.
She was silent and didn't speak.
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
I want to go to the lowlands, John.
And then I knew my love was dead.
I realized my lover had passed away.
Lowlands away.
Let's leave for the lowlands.
Then I awoke to hear the cry.
I woke up to hear someone shouting.
Lowlands, Lowlands away me John.
I wish to leave for the lowlands, John.
Oh watch on deck.
Someone needs to keep watch on the deck.
Oh watch, ahoy.
Someone call for the watch.
Lowlands away.
Let's go to the lowlands.
Writer(s): Traditional, Bob Maxwell
Contributed by Gabriella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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
@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
@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