1
Here’s adieu, sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu,
I’m goin’ over the ocean, love, for to search for something new.
Come change your ring with me, dear girl, come change your ring with me,
For it might be a token of true love while I am on the sea.
2
When I’m far upon the sea you know not where I am gone.
Kind letters I will write to you from every foreign land.
The secrets of your heart, dear girl, are the best of my good will,
So let my body be where it might, my heart will be with you still.
3
There’s a heavy storm a-rising, see how it gathers round,
While we poor boys on the ocean wide are fighting for the crown.
There’s nothin’ to protect us, love, or to keep us from the cold,
On the ocean wide, where we must bide like jolly seamen bold.
4
There’s tinkers, tailors and shoemakers, lie snoring fast asleep,
While we poor boys on the ocean wide are ploughin’ through the deep.
Our officers commandin’ us and them we must obey,
Expectin’ every moment for to get cast away.
5
But when the wars are over there’ll be peace on every shore,
We’ll go home to our wives and our families and the girls that we adore.
We’ll call for liquor merrily, we will spend our money free,
And when the money it is all gone we’ll boldly go to sea.