Here’s Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy

Here's adieu, sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu
I'm a-going across the ocean, love, to seek 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

When I am far upon the sea you know not where I am
Kind letters I will write to you from every foreign land
The secrets of your mind, dear girl
Are the best of my good will
So let my body 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 sailors are on the sea, are fighting for the crown
Our officers commanding us
And them we must obey
Expecting every moment for to get cast away

There are tinkers, tailors and shoemakers, lie snoring fast asleep
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are ploughing through the deep
There's nothing to defend us, love
Or to keep us from the cold
On the ocean wide, where we must bide like jolly seamen bold

And when the wars are all over there'll be peace on every shore
We'll drink to our wives and our children and the girls that we adore
We will call for liquor merrily
And spend our money free
And when our money is all gone we'll boldly go to sea