LOVELY
Farewell, my lovely
All on the salt seas I
am bound for to go;
But let my long absence
be no trouble to you,
For I shall return in
the spring, as you know.
Like some pretty little
sea boy, I will dress and go with you
In the deepest of danger,
I will stand as your friend;
In the cold stormy weather,
when the winds are a-blowing,
My dear I’ll be willing
to wait upon you then.
Well, your pretty little
hands they can’t handle our tackle,
And your dainty little
feet on our topmast can’t go;
And the cold stormy weather,
love, you can’t well endure,
I would have you ashore,
when the raging winds do blow.
So fare you well my lovely Nancy, since it’s now
I must leave you,
All on the salt seas I
am bound for to go;
But you must be safe,
and be loyal and constant,
For I shall return in
the spring, as you know.
In A Selection
of Some Less Known FOLK-SONGS, Vol. 2, arr. by Cecil J. Sharp, R. Vaughn
Williams, and others, compiled by Cyril Winn (© 1909). Novello,
Recorded by Ian Campbell in "Blow The Man
Down, Sea Songs and Shanties" - Topic Records TSCD464
