Adieu, My Lovely Nancy

1. Adieu, my lovely Nancy, 
Ten thousand times adieu;
I'm going across the ocean, 
To seek for something new.
Come change your ring with me, my dear, 
Come change your ring with me - 
As that will be a token 
When I am on the sea.

2. When I am on the sea, my love,
You know not where I am;
But letters I will write to you 
From every foreign land -
With the secrets of my mind, my dear, 
And best of my good will;
And let my body be where it will, 
My heart is with you still.

3. See how the storm is rising, 
See how it's coming on;
While we poor jolly Jack Tars,
Are fighting for the crown.
Our captain he commands us, 
And him we must obey -
Expecting every moment 
For to be cast away.

4. You gentlemen and strangers
That lie snoring fast asleep,
While we poor jolly sailors
Are ploughing on the deep.
Our officers command us,
And them we must obey -
Expecting every moment 
For to be cast away.

5. Now that the storm is over, 
And we are safe on shore;
We'll drink to our wives and sweethearts, 
And the girls whom we adore.
We'll call for liquors merrily, 
And spend our money free;
And when our money is all gone,
we'll boldly go to sea.

(Repeat verse 1)


An old English song that deals with the sea and missing those left behind.