Here is the Copper Family version of the song. It is very similar to Sweet Nancy in the Digital Tradition.
-Joe Offer-
ADIEU, SWEET LOVELY NANCY
Here's adieu, sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu,
I'm a-going around 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 heart, dear girl, Are the best of my goodwill,
So let your body be where it might, my heart shall be with you still.
There's a heavy storm a-rising. See how it gathers round,
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are fighting for the Crown.
There is nothing to protect us, love, or to keep us from the cold,
On the ocean wide, where we must bide like jolly seamen bold.
There are/is tinkers, tailors and shoemakers lie snoring fast asleep
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are ploughing through the deep.
Our officers commanding us and them we must obey,
Expecting every moment for to get cast away.
But when the wars are all over, there'll be peace on every shore,
We'll return to our wives and families and the girls that we adore.
We will call for liquor merrily, we must spend our money free,
And when our money it is all gone we'll boldly go to sea.^^
As recorded by Bob & Jim Copper, March 1951
source: booklet from Early Recordings of The Copper Family of Rottingdean, a CD released on the Topic label in 2001.
Roud 165.Click to play
This is the Copper Family tune - I like it better than the tune in the Meredith book.
Garry Gillard has the Copper Family tune here, along with lyrics that are just slightly different.
Here's the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index.
Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy
DESCRIPTION: "Adieu sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu." The sailor must go over the sea "to seek for something new." He promises (to write, and tells) Nancy that, "Let my body go where it will, my heart will love you still." He hopes for a safe return
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1854 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 17(175a))
KEYWORDS: sailor separation
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South)) US(MW) Australia Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (9 citations):
Eddy-BalladsAndSongsFromOhio 153, (fourth of several "Fragments of Irish Songs")
Peacock, p. 877, "Good-bye My Lovely Annie" (1 text, 1 tune)
Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 516, "Adieu My Lovely Nancy" (1 text)
Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Gl 133, "Isle of Wight" (1 text)
Cologne/Morrison-WiltshireFolkSongs, pp. 36-37, "Adieu My Lovely Nancy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Copper-ASongForEverySeason, pp. 244-245, "Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Meredith/Anderson-FolkSongsOfAustralia, pp. 178-179, "Lovely Nancy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Huntington-SongsTheWhalemenSang, p. 260, "(Mary's Cot)" (1 text, mostly from this song though the first verse is "The Rose of Allandale")
DT, SWTNANCY
Roud #165
RECORDINGS:
Howard Morry, "Good-bye My Lovely Annie" (on PeacockCDROM) [one verse only]
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 17(175a), "Lovely Nancy" ("Adieu, my lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adie"), Swindells (Manchester)), 1796-1853
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Whale-Catchers" (lyrics)
cf. "Old Kitarden" (lyrics)
cf. "The Bold Privateer" [Laws O32] (lyrics)
cf. "I Love My Sailor Boy" (lyrics)
File: E153DGo to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song ListGo to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or DiscographyThe Ballad Index Copyright 2021 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.