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Here's adieu, lovely Nancy, I'm now going to leave you,
Down to the East Indies my course I will steer;
I know very well my long absence will grieve you,
But, my dear, I'll be back in the spring of the year.
Oh, Jimmy, lovely Jimmy, you talk not of leaving,
You talk not of leaving me here all alone;
It is your fond company, love, I do admire,
Be advised by me, Jimmy, and tarry at home.
I will dress as a sailor if you'd let me go with you.
In the midst of all dangers your friend I won't fail;
With the stormy winds ringing and the raging seas rolling,
My dear, I'll be ready to reef your topsail.
Your neat little hands, love, 'round cables can't handle,
Nor your neat little feet up our rigging can't run;
Nor your delicate body cold winds can't endure of,
Stay at home, lovely Nancy, to the sea do not come.
So Jimmy went sailing, left Nancy bewailing,
The tears from her poor eyes like fountains did flow;
Her gay golden locks she's continually tearing,
Saying, I'll sigh till I die, won't I ne'er see him more.
Let this be a warning to all other fair maids,
Never love a young sailor who ploughs on the sea;
For it's first they will court you and next they will slight you,
And then they will leave you as Jimmy left me.
Collected in 1951 from John Molloy of St. Shott's, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
A similar variant was also collected in 1951 from Frank Knox of St. Shott's, NL, and published as Molly And Johnny in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
A similar variant was also collected as Lovely Molly, a Canadian variant of Farewell, Nancy, by Helen Creighton [1899-1989] and published in Maritime Folk Songs (Ryerson, Toronto, 1962/1972).
