Adieu Sweet, Lovely Nancy

Here’s adieu sweet, lovely Nancy,

ten-thousand times adieu.

I am going across the ocean, love,

to seek for something new.

Come change your ring with me, dear girl,

come change your ring with me,

that it might be a token of true love,

while I am on the sea.

Now, when I am far upon the sea,

you’ll know not where I am.

Kind letters I will write to you,

from every foreign land.

The secrets of your heart, dear girl,

the best of my goodwill.

Though my body will where be where it might,

my heart will be with you still.

There’s a heavy storm a-rising,

see how it gathers ‘round,

while we poor souls upon the sea,

are fighting for the Crown.

Our officers commanded us,

and them we must obey,

expecting every moment,

for to be cast away.

There are tinkers, tailors and shoemakers,

lie snoring in their sleep,

while we poor souls on the ocean wide,

are plowing through the deep.

There’s nothing to protect us, love,

or keep us from the cold,

on the ocean wide, where we must bide,

as jolly seamen bold.

And when the wars are over,

there’ll be peace on every shore,

and we’ll drink to our wives and families,

and the girls that we adore.

We’'ll call for liquor merrily,

and spend our money free,

and when the money is all gone,

we will boldly go to sea.